London - England were set to return home Friday following the terror attacks in Mumbai but said a two-match test series against India was "still in place" next month.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said that following the postponement of the two remaining one-day internationals the squad was returning home.

Talks would continue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India about the resumption of the tour, it said.

The first test is due to begin in Ahmedabad on December 11 although the venue for the final test, scheduled for Mumbai on December 19, will be changed.

The ECB said that the events were particularly shocking for the England party because one of the main targets, the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, was their base at the start of the tour and was due to host them again for the final test.

However England will go ahead with the two tests providing security concerns can be addressed.

"We're going to London to re-evaluate the situation but the test series is still in place," Hugh Morris, managing director of English cricket, said.

"To get back to a home environment will be a good thing. It's been an awful tragedy that this has happened in Mumbai and the players have felt very close to it because they have been in the hotel and in the rooms and the restaurant only a couple of weeks ago and getting back home for a few days will serve them well.

"Clearly where England go to play cricket we have security advice, we act on that security advice and if that says it is safe and secure for players and management to go that is what we will do.

"This is a tragic event and the players feel desperately sorry for all that are caught up in the events in Mumbai. They're very disturbed by it as we all are."

Morris said he though the England players would want to continue with the matches.

"I think the players' desire will be there," he said.

"It's a test series the players have looked forward to for a long period of time.

"It's always a huge challenge to play cricket over here in India. I would be confident the players will come over here full of enthusiasm and wanting to do well in the series." (dpa)