Dithering five put tour in chaos

England's cricket tour of India has been thrown into chaos today after five senior players refused to commit themselves until they have cast-iron guarantees that they will be safe.

Today should have seen the high noon deadline pass when each team member decided once and for all whether he was too afraid to fly or not.

Instead, the highly controversial delaying tactics of front-line stars Craig White, Andy Caddick, Ashley Giles, Robert Croft and Marcus Trescothick has left the selectors in an impossible position only a fortnight before the team is due to fly to Bombay for the six-week, three-Test tour.

The move is a severe blow to England captain Nasser Hussain and the game's hierarchy, both at home and in India, who have spent the past week in intense talks aimed at allaying safety fears expressed by individual players and their families.

With no major civil unrest following the bombing of Afghanistan reported in Indian cities, the decision of the five players is certain to provoke accusations of unneccessary caution, even cowardice, similar to the barrage of criticism levelled at the six Chelsea footballers who refused to fly to Tel Aviv last week.

They also join other world sports stars who have dived for cover since 11 September. American golfers refused to take part in the World Match Play tournament at Wentworth, while Australia's rugby league team first cancelled its British tour and then, overwhelmed by criticism, reinstated it in a truncated form.