Graham Thorpe is one of 11 players who today told the ECB that they will go to India in November. Five members of the 16-man squad -- Andy Caddick, Robert Croft, Ashley Giles, Marcus Trescothick and Craig White -- are still undecided, but have been asked by the ECB chief executive Tim Lamb to have their answers ready "after the weekend". Thorpe is the surprise name on the list of 11 because he had publicly expressed doubts about making the trip. The other ten, who will go to India as long as they and their union, the PCA, are satisfied with the security arrangements, are: Nasser Hussain, Usman Afzaal, Mark Butcher, Richard Dawson, James Foster, Warren Hegg, Matthew Hoggard, James Ormond, Mark Ramprakash and Michael Vaughan.

The five waverers will hold further talks with the ECB over the weekend. "This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make," said Caddick, the most established of the five, "and I need to feel 100% confident before myself and my family can make a decision."

Croft said his family was his first priority: "In the current volatile world situation I do not want to leave them to worry about my welfare, so I have requested more time to consider my decision."

Of the others who are yet to make up their mind, Giles and White are both due to have fitness tests on November 7, while Trescothick is still concerned about security. "As safety cannot be 100% guaranteed," he said, "I feel that I require more time to consider my position and ensure that I am totally happy and in the right frame of mind."

This means that England could still go to India with the 16 players they originally chose. "I am glad that no-one has so far made themselves unavailable to go on the tour," said Lamb. "We fully understand that this has been a difficult decision to make, and we accept that some players need a little more time to consider their positions. But we do need to have definite decisions after this weekend in order to finalise the selection of the team and all the detailed arrangements for the tour."

John Carr, ECB's director of cricket operations, will travel to India with a senior representative of the PCA before the tour starts to finalise security measures. He will meet representatives of "all the relevant Indian government and cricketing authorities", plus Sir Rob Young, the British high commissioner in Delhi, who briefed the players on Tuesday. Carr will have the authority to appoint a security manager, who will oversee arrangements throughout the tour and travel with the team. All the members of the management and support team have confirmed their availability to tour.

"The advice from the Foreign Office, that it is safe to tour, still stands," said Lamb. "We hope that this won't change, but if it does then we will act appropriately. We will, however, be monitoring the security situation on a daily basis from now until the tour ends just before Christmas."

The 11 who are touring

Nasser Hussain (capt) Essex age 33

Michael Vaughan Yorkshire 26

Mark Butcher Surrey 29

Graham Thorpe Surrey 32

Mark Ramprakash Surrey 32

Usman Afzaal Nottinghamshire 24

James Foster (wk) Essex 21

Matthew Hoggard Yorkshire 24

Warren Hegg (wk) Lancashire 33

Richard Dawson Yorkshire 21

James Ormond Leicestershire 24

And the five who have doubts
Marcus Trescothick Somerset 25

Craig White Yorkshire 30

Ashley Giles Warwickshire 28

Andrew Caddick Somerset 32

Robert Croft Glamorgan 31

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