Miliband praises England cricketers for India return

(GETTY IMAGES)

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has praised the England cricket team for doing "the right thing" by returning to India in the wake of terror attacks.

Mr Miliband said the decision showed that those who perpetrated the violence "will not win".

The team flew home from India part-way through their one-day series in the wake of last month's carnage in Mumbai, which claimed more than 170 lives.

But the squad arrived back on Monday for the two-Test series, insisting they wanted to signal support for the country.

They have pledged half their fees from tomorrow's opening Test in Chennai - around £35,000 - to victims of the atrocities.

Writing on his blog, Mr Miliband said he "applauded" the decision to return.

"It will be hard to focus on the cricket but it is the right thing to do," he wrote.

"Because it reaches out to India which has been wronged; because it shows confidence and commitment; and because it says terrorism will not win."