The arrival of the England and India teams in Chennai (formerly Madras) for Friday's one-day international has caused more interest than is usual - even in a country obsessed by the game. The reason? England captain Nasser Hussain is returning to the city of his birth. Although Hussain moved to England when he was five, he is regarded by the locals as one of their own - many of his family still live in the city - and the warmth of the reception he has received has touched him. "I have very few memories of Madras." admitted Hussain, "but the way I've been treated in India has been so special for me and I don't expect Madras to be any different.

"My dad's from Madras and, more importantly, there are some very close friends of his still connected with the cricket club he used to play for. It will be a special game for him to have his son lead out England there."

Hussain's father Joe and several members of his family have flown out from England specially for this match, and Hussain faces a difficult job balancing match preparations with the media clamour for his time.

But Hussain was quick to dispel any doubts as to where his loyalties lie. "My home is England. I have always been English. I am proud of my English roots, proud of my England side, proud of being England captain - everything I know, all my schoolboy heroes, both football and cricket, have been English. Here is probably where I started playing the game, but everything I've learnt about it is through England."

Unlike many English cricketers before him, Hussain has found touring India an extremely positive experience, and he has won over the public with his attitude. "I've had no ill-feelings at all and I really enjoy playing out here. It's all been very friendly. There have been no shouts of traitor or anything like that."

Whether the farewell will be quite so warm if Hussain leads England to victory on Friday remains to be seen.

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