Mumbai: England captain Michael Vaughan on Monday admitted that off spinner Ashley Giles will be sorely missed as their team readies itself for battle against India.
Addressing his first press conference on their arrival at Mumbai for a three-Test and seven ODI series, Vaughan said Giles had come to India before and had enjoyed success and therefore his absence would be felt on the spinning wickets of India.
The England captain however added in the same vein that this "gives opportunity to the spinners we have in our squad here to prove themselves".
Vaughan said they have two weeks to get acclimatised to the conditions in India and they would be using that time to prepare for the Test series.
Stating that though the loss in Pakistan after the Ashes victory was disapointing, they have put it behind and "looking at seeing how to put it right".
He also felt that the Ashes series had raised the profile of the game all over the world, and the Indian fans would be treated to attractive cricket by the England boys.
Vaughan said the return of Simon Jones augurs well for them as he is a bowler whose strength is skidding the ball, which the Indian wickets offer.
England coach Duncan Fletcher also said that his team was well prepared and they have the talent and the self belief to be able to win in India.
Fletcher said he did not feel the balls used in India would pose a problem for his bowlers as they had come well prepared for the series covering all aspects of the game.
Vaughan revealed felt that he did not have any problem with the itinerary for this tour though it would entail a lot of travelling.
"We would get a chance to see the different regions and cultures of the country," he added.
England will start their tour with a three-day game against Mumbai XI at Mumbai from February 18-20 and then play Board President's XI in another three-day game at Baroda from February 23-25 before the first Test at Nagpur from March 1-5.
Earlier, the England team arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here this afternoon and were immediately whisked away in a waiting bus to the Taj Mahal Hotel in South Mumbai where the team has been put up.
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