THE English cricketing authorities, in consultation with the Foreign Office and commissioners, have decided that it is safe for the forthcoming tour to India to go ahead. The games will be played hundreds of miles away from any danger zones.

If that assessment changes in the light of new information or unforeseen circumstances, the tour will rightly be called off.

It is disappointing, then, that five of the 16-man squad are still pondering whether to go. Several are concerned about leaving young families. It is a laudable concern, but an international cricketer's job - the way he earns his living to support his family - is to tour the world.

There was a time when young men would do anything to represent their country at their chosen sport. Although the decision facing the players is tricky, they appear to have forgotten what an honour it is to be selected for England.

And if our cricketers bale out of a tour because they see dangers that the authorities do not, how are we ever going to convince American tourists that they should be brave and come and spend their money in this country?

The cricketers are also doing a disservice to our troops, who we expect to do their jobs in dangerous situations. Indeed, they are doing a disservice to the cause for which the nation is fighting.

As some on the Indian sub-continent question the moral nature of the West's campaign, our cricketers will become our ambassadors.

And our leaders constantly tell all of us - be we office workers worried by anthrax threats or cricketers worried at playing for their country - that if we allow our fears to change our lives, the terrorists will have won.

While we can only hope that our cricketers will beat their opposition, we must expect them not to be defeated by terrorism.