Thorpe leading the training Photo AFP

England carried out the first net session of their tour of India today watched by armed guards. It follows the most high-profile security ever to greet an England team abroad.

Extensive discussions about security have been held between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Indian authorities. The 16-man squad, who arrived at Mumbai early yesterday morning, relaxed before a fitness work-out in the hotel pool.

There was intensive security at Mumbai International Airport, as a ring of plain clothes police surrounded the England squad on arrival.

The ECB have have also engaged personal minders Matthew Kilbride and Douglas Dick. Kilbride arrived in India last weekend, while Dick flew with the team from Heathrow. The two men will stay with the squad to maintain safety.

The ECB's cricket operations manager, John Carr said: "Discreet security will be around the tour party the whole time. If the players want to go out of the hotel they will have to inform the security staff where they want to go.

"Security arrangements will be reassessed, I am sure, on an ongoing basis to make sure security is going well. And our own security advisors are well-placed to liaise with the Indian authorities.

"The players would be able to go out to places but they would be discreetly accompanied. We would much rather be in a situation were we are receiving word from the players that we are over the top in terms of security rather than saying security is not tight."

However there are some social events laid on for the squad, who attend a dinner put on by the British High Commission tonight.

Meanwhile Nasser Hussain, who was born in Madras and moved to England when he was five, talked more about the cricket to the Indian media today.

"Relations between England and India have always been good and they will remain good until we get onto that pitch in three weeks' time," said Hussain, who has visited the country of his birth just twice.

"It's obviously very special for me but the main reason it is special is because I am captaining England.

"We are all desperate to be here. I spoke to Steve Waugh in the dressing rooms at The Oval in the summer and he said we would enjoy it.

"I have fond memories, I love the culture, the people and the way they play their cricket."

"The sooner we learn about Indian cricket the better for our team," he said.

"They have some world-class spinners but we have seen Anil Kumble over quite a few seasons and we played him pretty well the last time India were in England.

"Our coach (Duncan Fletcher) has been to see them in South Africa recently.

"We know that is a different proposition as they will get more bounce and spin here and the only place to learn how to play them is out in the middle.

"There is nothing like experiencing it first-hand and that first Test will be the ideal opportunity.

"Whether we are experienced or not it was always going to be difficult. We went to Zimbabwe for the one-dayers with a young side and won 5-0, although we know this is a lot tougher.

"These guys that are coming into the side give us old ones a bit of energy and their attitude is fantastic. I shall be handing out some new caps and I will be pleased to do so.

"In a funny sort of way that might be an advantage to us -- we are all on the same level, no-one has got the game sussed and there are no differences between anyone.

"We came and learned how to play on the subcontinent in Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year and we are here to learn some more.

"The rewards here will be much greater - everyone loses to Australia apart from India when they are at home.

"No-one comes to India and wins but there is no point mentioning that in the dressing room."

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