Eoin Morgan's England train for first T20 against India with one eye on World Cup - in pictures

Visitors looking to put Test series debacle behind them

England's Mark Wood,left, walks back dancing at the end of a training session with his team player ahead of the first T20 against India in Ahmedabad on Thursday, March 11. AP

England's Mark Wood, centre, dances to music at the stadium after a practice session ahead of the first T20 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. AFP

England's Ben Stokes after batting in the nets on Thursday. AFP

England's captain Eoin Morgan bats during a practice session in Ahmedabad. Reuters

England's Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali at the practice session in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Reuters

England's players stretch during their practice session. Reuters

England's Sam Curran bats during a practice session at the Narendra Modi Stadium. AFP

England's Ben Stokes, left, and Chris Jordan prepare to bowl during their training session. AP

England's Sam Billings after batting at the nets in Ahmedabad. AP

England's full-strength squad began preparations for the first of five T20s against India in Ahmedabad, looking to put the Test series setback behind them.

England's rest and rotation policy during the preceding 3-1 Test defeat had made it clear that their focus was on fielding the best possible XI for the T20s, especially since the T20 World Cup will be held later in the year in India.

Captain Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy and the rest of England's T20 stalwarts sweated it out at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which will host all five matches of the series.

While the spotlight will be on some of the biggest T20 stars during the series, one player who remains sidelined is Alex Hales. The top order batsman has not played for his country since March 2019, exiled on the eve of the 50-over World Cup following a failed drugs test.

Hales has become one of the most reliable players on the T20 franchise circuit and played a blinder for Sydney Thunder at the recent Big Bash League, topping the charts with 543 runs at a punishing strike-rate of 161.60 per hundred balls.

National selector Ed Smith has floated the idea of inviting Hales to train with the side in the English summer as the first stage of a possible reconciliation, but Morgan is believed to hold the casting vote on such matters and appears steadfast.

Morgan seems more than happy with a status quo that sees the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy and Dawid Malan heading up the England card.

"I think our position on Alex still remains the same," said Morgan.

"He's not in the squad and the squad is very difficult to get back into. Alex's situation is obviously very unique, the quality of the player that he is has never been in doubt. Like I've said before, time is a great healer.

"Only time will tell, but you look at the strength of our squad at the moment and areas that we're trying to improve – one area we don't struggle for players, it's probably in the top three."