The special security measures for England's first game of the Indian tour range from the plausible - no cigarette lighters - to the ridiculous: no chapatis unless in a transparent bag. But all of this is of little consequence to Duncan Fletcher, who would probably dine on chapatis for the rest of his life if it meant a victorious tour. While other hotel guests frolicked by the pool in trunks, Fletcher sat in the shade of one of the verandas at the Taj Mahal Hotel, very much not in trunks, and tried to explain his plan of campaign while sticking to his policy of giving away as little as possible.

Over the next few weeks he will quietly sort the Chris Adamses from the Michael Vaughans, but at the moment he seems genuinely pleased with all his young charges. "It's gone very well," he said. "Yesterday I was a little bit concerned that I'd overcooked them because it was meant to be a very easy run-out but they got stuck in. And what was pleasing to see was that when they pitched up today, they didn't seem lethargic and tired.

"There is no substitute for experience but the attitude of the guys [makes coaching] a pleasure. Ever since Zimbabwe there seems to be a very good attitude." In what may have been a gentle dig at those who scorned the idea of a two-week pyjamas-only tour, he added: "I don't think people realise how critical that tour was."

England's first match, starting on Sunday, is a 90-over-a-side, two-day game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where both their practice sessions so far have been held. There are only two more warm-up games after that and Fletcher said that there was a very good chance England would start with their strongest side - possibly swapping a couple of players round for the second game at Hyderabad on November 22.

Most of his head-scratching will concern the bowling, which is not so much overcooked as dangerously raw. At least one of the uncapped offspinners, Richard Dawson and Martyn Ball, will play on Sunday, though they are almost as much of a mystery to Fletcher as to the Indian public.

"I haven't really seen much of Dawson and Ball, just watching them in the nets and how the batters are playing them. You get some feeling from how the batters react. Certain batters who I think are pretty good players of spin bowling."

The senior spinner, Ashley Giles, will definitely not be fit for Sunday as he continues his recovery from an Achilles-tendon operation. But Fletcher hinted that he would be considered for the first Test, even if he hasn't played a match. "It's looked pretty positive from what we've seen at the moment. He looks fit, he bowled a little bit yesterday, and Dean [Conway, the physio] said there was no ill effect on that leg. He participated quite a lot today and he seems pretty confident, but we don't want to rush that one."

He was upbeat too about Craig White, who came through a strenuous net session niggle-free and is under consideration for the No. 6 spot - a position which Fletcher admitted could not be filled by either of the wicketkeepers, Jamie Foster or Warren Hegg.

With only eight days' cricket before the first Test, some decisions may need to be taken before the players even step on the field. But Fletcher appears to be keeping an open mind. "We picked the guys we thought in the UK would come out best. Now we've got to come out and just see how good they are in these conditions. Really you don't even find out in the nets, you find out in the middle."

He also went out of his way to pay tribute to Nasser Hussain, his partner in the regeneration of English cricket which began in 1999, came to a messy halt in the Ashes, and may have begun again in Zimbabwe. "Nasser's been under tremendous pressure when he hasn't been perfoming that well a year ago, and he's a pretty strong character and he came through. I think he's batting very well at the moment - probably the best I've seen him bat since I've been with him." High praise considering that in their first Test series together, in South Africa two years ago, Hussain averaged 62.

Tanya Aldred, our assistant editor, is covering the whole England tour in India. More from Tanya Aldred in India

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