Senior players Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman and opener Wasim Jaffer -- all of whom arrived here on Tuesday, have joined the team. Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose, the pace bowlers picked for the Test series, are already with the squad.

India recorded their first-ever one-day series triumph against the Proteas in the three-match series in Belfast. Their one-off tie against Pakistan in Glasgow for the Friendship Cup, however, was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Thanks to heavy rain and biting cold, the Indian experienced some extremely difficult conditions in Belfast which will come in handy during their tough tour of England.