Bracing up for what is expected to be a gruelling Test series, visiting England cricketers had their first full net session here at the Brabourne Stadium after arriving from Bangladesh two days ago.
The marathon training and net practice session lasted for close to four hours with all the 16 members of the squad taking part in it although the session was "an optional" one.
"It was an optional session but with the Test in Dhaka finishing early (England lost in three days), all the team members had enough time to recover," said team sources.
Initially only a few members, including captain Alastair Cook, were scheduled to take part in the session today to be followed by a full session tomorrow before the team's departure to Rajkot for the opening Test of the five-game encounter beginning Nov 9. "The squad will depart on Sunday. We have another full session here tomorrow," England team sources informed.
England are set to have two full days' of practice in Rajkot before the lung-opener, the first-ever Test match in that city.
A top batsman like Joe Root was seen playing the slog-sweep and the step-out straight drives repeatedly against the net slow bowlers.
Meanwhile England's injured pace spearhead James Anderson is expected to undergo a fitness test back home in less than 24 hours to find out whether he will be able to take part in the series at a later stage.