Five England players delay tour decision

Five England players have been granted more time before deciding whether to go on the tour of India next month, the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday.

In a statement the ECB said Robert Croft, Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Caddick, Ashley Giles and Craig White had requested more time before reaching a decision. The players had been given until noon (1100GMT) on Friday to confirm their availability.

The statement said the ECB had accepted the players' request and added the selectors would have further discussions with them at the weekend.

This week the ECB confirmed the tour would go ahead despite security concerns after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington and the subsequent U.S.-led raids on Afghanistan.

"I'm glad that no one has so far made themselves unavailable to go on tour," said ECB chief executive Tim 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.

"The advice from the Foreign Office, that it is safe to tour, still stands. 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."

Croft said he had a young family who were 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 the situation," he said.

Opener Trescothick and paceman Caddick also said they needed more time.

"This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make and I need to feel 100 percent confident before myself and my family can make a decision," Caddick said.

England play three tests in India in December before returning home for a break. They will then play a five-match one-day series in January.

Mail Cricket Editor