Australians ready to go

CRICKET Australia will be left to make the final decision about touring India following a series of bomb attacks in New Delhi, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said yesterday. Australia, led by captain Ricky Ponting, are due to leave on Sunday, with the third Test of the four-match series scheduled to start in New Delhi on 29 October.

A series of blasts ripped through the Indian capital on Saturday, killing at least 20 people and wounding about 100 others. Cricket Australia is waiting on a security report and are scheduled to hold meetings with the country’s Players Association.

But Peter Young, Cricket Australia’s general manager of public affairs, said that the team planned to leave as scheduled, pending the security assessment.

“Our position is that the tour is going ahead unless we are otherwise persuaded,” Young was quoted saying on the Cricinfo website.