Even as late as last night, worried viewers were continuing to ask: “Is it safe to watch the cricket from India on the television? Or is it too risky, in the present fraught circumstances?”

Inevitably, any opinion offered here on this highly sensitive matter comes with the proviso that this is a developing situation (the first Test match was scheduled to begin early this morning) and that the picture could have changed by the time you read this. We also believe firmly that these kinds of decisions should be a matter for the individual and their conscience.

Nevertheless, if pushed to commit to a view, our advice, taking into consideration the informed opinion of those on the ground, would be for people to stay away from their televisions on this occasion, unless they genuinely feel that they have no alternative but to watch.

It stands to reason, doesn't it? Given how little preparation England have had (and remember that some of these players haven't been near a first-class match since August), this one has got banana skin written all over it, and the risk for the viewer of innocently getting caught up in something really nasty is unignorable. Anyone who is concerned would, we suggest, be well advised to give it a miss, or maybe just dip in and out a bit at first and take it from there.

What we do know is that 350 commandos are on duty in Madras (Chennai), along with 2,000 other officers and a task force in plain clothes, which, although it doesn't change much for the safety of the viewer in their sitting room, does at least provide the players with the reassurance they seem to crave. Did we mention that the commandos are armed? If you do risk tuning in and you see what appears to be a military action developing in the outfield and involving airborne reconnaissance forces and amphibious landing craft, don't worry unduly, it's probably just the twelfth man bringing on the drinks.

According to Thiru Radhakrishnan, the Madras Commissioner of Police, who was interviewed by Sky Sports News this week, the dressing-rooms at the stadium are “completely guarded on either side by the commando force”. At last, the peace in the workplace that could not be guaranteed to England for the multimillion-dollar Stanford debacle, when a certain mustachioed Texan kept popping in to say “howdy”. Almost as if he owned the place. Which, of course, he did, but that was no excuse.

Let's hope that the umbrella of security in India extends to offer some cover and some peace of mind to the brave boys manning the commentary booth. Not for them the public tizzy of the England players. They made no pricey retreat to Dubai to weigh up their options. Accordingly, the eyes brim with pride to think of David “Bumble” Lloyd uncomplainingly pushing his Thermos and Tupperware sandwich box through the metal scanner every morning on his way to work. Sir Ian Botham is out there, too. Well, you didn't think he would stay behind, did you? Made of brass, these people. And, therefore, likely to set the scanners off, but that's all part of it.

No sign of David Gower, though, disappointingly. Gower normally likes to do these things in style - we still recall, with fond amazement, the five-star beachside villa from which the former England captain kept a distant and relaxed (some would say almost uninterested) eye on the World Cup of 2007. In the light of subsequent developments, we also tremble to consider how vulnerable Gower was, during those long, sun-dappled afternoons on the terrace, to attack from the sea. By flying fish, among other things.

Still, we are assured that his decision to stay out of the way this time had nothing to do with security arrangements and we have no reason to doubt that. The authorities in India have bent over backwards to enable this tour to go ahead and Gower's call for a slightly thicker towelling bathrobe than usual could probably have been met.

The Madras police commissioner maintained that the security arrangements had led to “absolute happiness”. Sky Sports News backed his words with images of soldiers carrying machineguns and items ostentatiously marked “Tear Smoke Munitions”. There are probably one or two in the England squad who, until this week, thought that a Tear Smoke Munition was some kind of cocktail involving brandy and matches. Either that or an early Iron Maiden album. But no longer. Say what you like about this experience, it has been an eye-opener.

Back at home, ITV announced that it would give up on the Boat Race after next year. The production, which includes tracking the contest from the sky, is prohibitively expensive, apparently. But it's about the willingness to deploy, surely. India manages to muster 350 commandos for a Test match. ITV can't even send a helicopter to the Boat Race. Something is awry.