Security Upped For Rowdy Ashes Fans

Heightened security measures will be in place for the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley this week in a bid to cut down on anti-social behaviour amongst England cricket fans.

Concerns were raised during the third Test at Edgbaston when Australia captain Ricky Ponting was booed.

Drunken fans have caused problems at Headingley in the past and organisers want to reduce the number of incidents.

When England played South Africa last year, 81 people were ejected from the 18,000-capacity ground in three days, prompting Yorkshire County Cricket Club to take action.

They have increased the number of stewards by 20% and more than 300 are now set to be deployed when the Test begins on Friday.

Beer stalls are set to open at 10:45am and shut for an hour in the afternoon, with organisers maintaining the discretion to extend this closure period.

There will be an alcohol-free, family stand, a number of specially assigned ‘spotters’ at beer stalls around the ground to identify drunken spectators and prevent them purchasing further alcohol and free water will be readily available at stalls.

Yorkshire will also enforce a ban on musical instruments, meaning Barmy Army trumpet player Bill Cooper will not be permitted to play, while England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke has written a message in the official programme asking fans to respect the Australians, and especially Ponting.

‘We’ve worked hard with police and advisory groups to see what we’re faced with and cut down on crowd problems,’ a Yorkshire spokesman added.

‘We’ve received criticism in the past so you look at what you’ve done and cut your cloth accordingly.’