The Australian cricket team arrived in Mumbai today for their high-profile seven-match ODI series against India.

The team, led by Ricky Ponting, was escorted to its hotel in suburban Bandra under tight security provided by the Mumbai police.

Six members of the 15-strong squad are already in the country and taking part in the Champions League Twenty20.

The six players who are already in India, are Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee (New South Wales Blues), Peter Siddle, Jon Holland and Cameroon White (Victoria Bushrangers).

The visitors are scheduled to have practice sessions at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex tomorrow and on October 22 before leaving for Vadodara on the October 23rd afternoon for the first match of the rubber, a day encounter, at the Reliance Stadium on October 25.

The other matches are scheduled at Nagpur (Oct 28), Delhi (Oct 31), Mohali (Nov 2), Hyderabad (Nov 5), Guwahati (Nov 8) and Mumbai (Nov 11) with all these ties, barring the sixth one in Assam, to be day/night contest.

Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team, which got knocked out in the first stage of the Champions Trophy in South Africa, started its preparations in earnest here today for the upcoming seven-match ODI series against Australia.

Barring Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma, the other members of the team had a stint at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex this afternoon.

Overseeing the preparation was coach Gary Kirsten, who arrived in Mumbai this afternoon from South Africa.

Australian Squad: Ricky Ponting (Captain), Michael Hussey (Vice-Captain), Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz, Jon Holland, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White.