MUMBAI, Feb 13: A 16-member England cricket team arrived in India on Monday for a two-month tour described by captain Michael Vaughan as the “hardest of them all”. Vaughan’s men will play three Tests and seven one-day internationals in the cricket-mad country where England have not won a Test series since David Gower’s tourists won 2-1 in 1984-85.

“I think it’s one of the toughest tours around,” Vaughan was quoted as saying on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) website before the team’s departure from London.

“If you look at tours around the world, I think Australia and India are the two toughest you can go on.

“With the conditions you get in India and the heat and their record on their home soil, you could even argue it’s the hardest of them all.”

India have lost just three of the last 25 Test series played at home on traditionally slow, dusty wickets suited for spin bowling.

England are without their seasoned left-arm spinner Ashley Giles who is recovering from a hip surgery.

The three spinners in the touring squad — Shaun Udal, newcomer Monty Panesar and Ian Blackwell — have played just three Tests between them.

England, who won back the Ashes from world champions Australia last summer, were stunned in Pakistan later in the year when they lost both the Test and one-day series.

Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher were expected to hold a news conference later on Monday.

England will play two warm-up matches before the first of three back-to-back Tests begins in Nagpur on March 1. The second Test will be played in Mohali from March 9-13 and the third in Mumbai from March 18-22.

Meanwhile, Vaughan said the absence of veteran Ashley Giles would give his inexperienced spinners a chance to impress on the India tour.

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose Giles who is our most experienced spinner,” Vaughan told reporters after a 16-man England squad arrived here.

“It’s a great opportunity for the three guys who haven’t played much Test cricket,” Vaughan said, referring to spinners Shaun Udal, Ian Blackwell and Monty Panesar who have played just three Tests between them.

Left-arm spinner Giles, recovering from hip surgery, has bagged 140 wickets in 52 Tests and 55 in 62 one-dayers.

Vaughan’s men will play three Tests and seven one-day internationals in the cricket-mad country where England have not won a Test series since David Gower’s tourists triumphed 2-1 in 1984-85.

Vaughan said he expected tough conditions for his team as they would be playing in the heat and Mumbai was already nearing 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

Coach Duncan Fletcher said he expected England quick Simon Jones, who missed the Pakistan tour due to an injury, to swing the ball in Indian conditions.

England, who won back the Ashes from world champions Australia last summer, were stunned in Pakistan later in the year when they lost both the Test and one-day series.

England will play two warm-up matches before the first of three back-to-back Tests that begin in Nagpur on March 1. The second Test will be played in Mohali from March 9-13 and the third in Mumbai from March 18-22.

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