England arrive back in India

More than a week after halting their seven-week tour in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, England's players returned to the sub-continent in readiness for the two-Test series due to start on Thursday.

They were met by around 1,000 fanatical cricket fans and were surrounded by armed police almost as soon as they stepped off flight EY268 from Abu Dhabi, where they had spent the last few days at a training camp considering whether to continue the tour.

Led by captain Kevin Pietersen, they marched through and onto a team bus before being driven to their hotel in Chennai.

Their arrival caused a ripple of excitement outside the airport with fans jostling to find a position to take pictures before they were quickly driven away.

The fuss and excitement surrounding continued at the hotel when the players were presented with a garland of flowers and marked with a Tika, the traditional Hindu red spot placed on the forehead which signifies health and prosperity.

Their arrival follows a week of intense discussions between the players, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Professional Cricketers' Association.

England returned home a week last Saturday and, after days of discussions, agreed to go to a training camp in Abu Dhabi to consider a report from security consultant Reg Dickason.

That report was delivered to the players yesterday, who agreed to travel on to India today and continue with a tour many thought would never resume following the gruesome images from Mumbai.

While India waited for England's arrival, security was already being tightened at hotels and at the Chepauk Stadium, the venue for Thursday's hastily re-arranged opening Test.

Spectators, who normally turn up in droves to watch practice sessions, were conspicuous by their absence as a handful of India's players, including captain MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid, enjoyed the net facilities during the afternoon.

Even the intense scrutiny of the Indian media was kept firmly at a distance with the numerous photographers and television crews restricted to the stands with members of India's Rapid Action Force patrolling the boundary to deal with anyone brave enough to attempt a closer look.

The RAF, all of whom were dressed in blue combat uniforms, are the heavily-armed equivalent of the police force and are usually utilised to control riots, but now face a big role in patrolling the stadium during the build up to the Test.

But for all the understandable focus on security, India is also starting to anticipate the excitement of the forthcoming cricket.

Former India Test wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia was delighted with England's decision to bring their whole squad, stressing: "It's great news they are coming and it's great news for cricket."

The current players, however, are still coming to terms with the impact of the attacks, which killed 188 people during an organised campaign on several of Mumbai's landmarks.

Mumbai resident Sachin Tendulkar has admitted to being "haunted" by the incidents while young leg-spinner Amit Mishra believes the events could help motivate India when the cricket finally resumes on Thursday.

"We're all pained and saddened by what happened in Mumbai, but it will motivate us to give our best for the country," Mishra said.
"We hope to win convincingly and try to bring some cheer to the public, who have undergone a lot of pain in the last few weeks."

England will also be provided with plenty of support off the pitch when the series gets under way, with ECB chairman Giles Clarke flying out to offer moral support to the team.

David Collier, the ECB's chief executive, has also changed his plans and instead of flying home from the International Cricket Council's chief executive's meeting in Cape Town, has diverted to Chennai.