Even Aussies would have returned to India: Marsh

Australian Cricketers Association has endorsed England's decision to return to terror-struck India to play Tests and claimed Ricky Ponting's team would have done the same thing in these circumstances.

ACA Chief Executive Paul Marsh said England followed the advice of cricket's most highly regarded security officer Reg Dickason, who earlier worked with Australia for over a decade.

"Without being privy to the specific advice I assume it would have been the same advice we would have been given in the same circumstances because we use the same security officer," he said.

"We have always said that we rely on independent experts and we follow their advice," he was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

England had returned home after the last two games of a seven-match one-day series were called off, with the hosts leading 5-0 but returned to play the two-Test series as per the schedule.

Australia was widely criticised for not scrapping their tour of Pakistan early this year but Marsh said their decision was justified by the unending turmoil in that country.

"Sadly our decision on Pakistan was vindicated with the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad," Marsh said and added "it is a difficult time for cricket around the world."

Marsh is attending a Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA) executive meeting in Kuala Lumpur this week, where safety and security issues are expected to dominate debate.