The England cricket team will fly to India today to begin a two-Test series after being convinced that it is safe to tour the country in the aftermath of the Mumbai atrocities 12 days ago.

The players received a two-hour briefing last night in their hotel in Abu Dhabi, where they have been holding a training camp, and were persuaded by safety advisers that they will be given presidential-standard security during their fortnight-long stay.

Although there had been speculation that some players had doubts about the trip, the entire first-choice squad will board two flights from the Middle East to Madras (Chennai) today with the exception of the injured Ryan Sidebottom, who has been replaced by Amjad Khan, of Kent, and Stuart Broad, who will miss the first Test because of a hamstring strain. He will join the team there in the hope of being fit for the second Test.

Hugh and Sean Morris, respectively the managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, flew to Abu Dhabi last night with Reg Dickason, the ECB security adviser, after spending the weekend in India, and briefed the entire squad. The decision to tour was announced shortly before 11pm local time.

By agreeing to return after the one-day series was abandoned in the wake of the attacks, England will win the respect and admiration of thousands of fans in India, who will appreciate their solidarity in the face of terrorism. Hugh Morris said that the Test series could “galvanise India and help to rebuild it after the tragedy that happened in Mumbai”.

Morris said: “All the players in the England team will be remembered by cricket aficionados for their Test records, their performances on the field, but every now and again there is an opportunity to do something that transcends cricket and goes beyond the boundary. The players have made a very brave and very courageous decision that I’m sure will be hugely respected round the world.”

The meeting was due to take only an hour but lasted almost three hours, including a break for dinner. There were suggestions that players including Andrew Flintoff and Stephen Harmison had doubts about the tour’s safety, but they were persuaded by the security advice.

“There are a lot of characters in that dressing-room and quite rightly they challenged the reports but Reg was able to give them the assurances they needed,” Sean Morris said. “I spoke to Steve [Harmison]. He has been fantastic and it is a tough call with a young family. Ultimately he’s representing his country and hats off to him.”

Hugh Morris added: “Given the situation, I’d have been amazed if there weren’t questions. We tried to be honest and truthful with the players.”

While the first Test in Madras will start as planned on Thursday, there are still doubts about the viability of the second venue, Mohali, in the Punjab. The Test had been moved there from Mumbai, but Hugh Morris admitted that the city had still not received security clearance. Dickason will fly to Mohali today to begin a similarly detailed investigation.

“We are going to India with a view to playing two Tests,” Hugh Morris said. “The second will be in Mohali, subject to the assurances we can get on security grounds.”

If Dickason is unhappy with the risk, Bangalore and Delhi have been lined up as alternatives. Both would offer a simpler trip home on Christmas Eve to an England squad who have bravely decided to put their jobs ahead of their concerns for their families.