The Hindu : Sport : England set to return by Friday

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England set to return by Friday

Harmison and Flintoff among those not keen to return

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

BIG SETBACK: England skipper Kevin Pietersen (centre) is likely to miss the services of Steve Harmison (left) and Andrew Flintoff in the Test series.

London: Kevin Pietersen and his teammates are set to return to India by Friday to play the two-Test series, according to media reports here.

According to a report in The Guardian, the English cricketers would return to India on Thursday or Friday.

Crucial factor

However, the report added, everything would depend on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) being convinced about the security arrangements in India.

“The ECB will present the players with a safety report and is likely to confirm on Tuesday that the tour will resume later in the week,” it said.

Following the terror strikes in Mumbai, the England team returned home abandoning the last two ODIs against India and some of the players have developed cold feet about returning for the Test series.

Hasty return

Following the developments, ECB chairman Giles Clarke has hastily returned from a business meeting in Colombia while CEO David Collier cut short his holiday in the United States to participate in a teleconference with their Indian counterparts.

It is understood that the ECB is also talking to the Indian and British governments, high commissions in Indian cities, security advisers and other risk assessment experts in order to give the cricketers a thorough dossier on safety issues in India, the daily said.

Reluctant ones

In case they return, the England team might miss the services of Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff who are reluctant to go back to India.

Spinner Graeme Swann too is reluctant to come back. Swann said though he has full faith on security adviser Reg Dickason, who is yet to give a go-ahead to the tour, he was not particularly keen on returning to India. “I wouldn’t be 100 per cent happy with going back, you know,” the off-spinner said.

Pacer James Anderson might also stay back to be with his pregnant wife.

Supporting the players

Their possible pull out, however, would not count against them, selector Geoff Miller said.

“Players need to be on their full mettle. There is no point in anyone going out there if their mind is on physical self-preservation. We need them performing with bat and ball. But, depending on the character involved, it might not be right for some,” he said.

“At the moment nothing has been confirmed with any of the players. We are committed, as it stands, to playing in those two Test matches, subject to safety and security advice. The support we’ve had in India has been incredible. Cricket is a galvanising force in that country and that’s got to be taken into account as well,” he said. — PTI

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