Thursday 4th December 2008
KP happy with brave team spirit
Kevin Pietersen said he is happy that he did not have to go out of his teammates to go back to India for the Test series.
Pietersen, who left for Abu Dhabi the rest of the Test squad from the Heathrow Airport said: "It's fantastic the guys want to go there to rub shoulders together with India at a time of need."
Five of England's star players had said they would not want to travel to India eventually and after the recent threats to the airports of three major Indian cities, the team would be a little jittery as they wait in Abu Dhabi for the latest security assessment.
However, Pietetersen said he would keep his options open: ""There's a collective now. The guys are just waiting on reports from Reg [Dickason, the ECB security adviser] on Sunday night. If there are any alarm bells ringing the collective decision will be to come home.
"But we are very focused on playing red-ball cricket. Everybody has become a bit more open-minded about their decision. They've spoken to family members and they have realised that it's pretty huge to go back to India.
"I didn't persuade anybody, I respect everybody's individual concern and respect their decisions - they are men at the end of the day. I think it's very clear that nobody was told what to do."
Dickason went on a round in Chennai to check the arrangements in the stadium and the hotel and seemed satisfied. However, a lot would count on what feedback he gives to the team.
The ECB has clearly said that their return could still be jeopardised if their security concerns are not met.
Meanwhile, England coach Peter Moores said his team's preparation for the two Test series is not ideal but he hopes the boys can give India a tough fight in the Test series.
We'll have a bowling camp in Abu Dhabi and there will be 10 seamers and some spinners, who we can use to help us practice," added Moores.
"We need to give the batsmen some decent time in the middle to get the best practice they can."
The first Test is scheduled to start in Chennai on December 11.
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