Eng players down with stomach bug

Five players including the three specialist spinners are doubtful for the three-day warm-up game starting on Thursday.

The England team is plagued with fitness concerns with five players including the three specialist spinners doubtful to play in the three-day warm-up game starting on Thursday.

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Fast bowler Simon Jones and spinners Shaun Udal, Ian Blackwell and Monty Panesar are ill with a stomach bug, team spokesman Andrew Walpole told reporters on Wednesday.

All-rounder Paul Collingwood is struggling with the back spasm he suffered during the tourists' three-day practice game in Mumbai, he said.

The fitness woes have left England with just 11 fit players on the eve of their only first-class fixture, against an Indian Board President's XI, before the first Test starting in Nagpur on March 1.

England, aiming for their first Test series victory in India for 21 years, are scheduled to play three Tests and seven one-day internationals.

The tourists were due to have a practice net session later on Wednesday.