Call for action on pitch invasions

Lancashire have called for Government action to prevent a recurrence of the pitch invasions which disrupted the third Test and may affect Old Trafford's status as an international cricket venue.

Lancashire have called for Government action to prevent a recurrence of the pitch invasions which disrupted the third Test and may affect Old Trafford's status as an international cricket venue.

Four streakers caused hold-ups in play on Saturday and a further fully-clothed intruder had to be chased the length of the field yesterday, provoking questions about levels of security at the ground.

The International Cricket Council, the sport's world governing body, warned last summer that any ground experiencing persistent crowd trouble could have its Test status removed. That decision following the mass invasion after the India v Pakistan World Cup match at the same venue.

Old Trafford is under threat as the match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, was forced to mention the incidents in his Test report by rules stating that any more than three invasions must be included in his summary.

"There's not a lot we can do about them getting on the field," Jim Cumbes, Lancashire's chief executive, said yesterday. "It's not a criminal offence in England and it's almost impossible to stop without employing hundreds of extra stewards.

"The match referee has told us he has to put it into his report to the ICC and they are keen on English grounds preventing any invasions, but the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] stance is that there is no law against it so there is not a lot we can do."

Cumbes believes new legislation similar to that in football, where it is an arrestable offence to enter the playing area, is the only solution to preventing further invasions in England.

England's captain, Nasser Hussain, admitted he had become "bored" with the pitch invaders. He said: "I was more than bored with it, I was disappointed. You are out there trying for your country, giving it everything and you hope you are providing entertainment. And it gets you down a little bit if people think it's more entertaining to run on the pitch with no clothes on.

"It doesn't say a lot for the entertainment we are providing, if that's more entertaining. As captain of a team trying everything for me, I wasn't overly amused by people running on. You can't just let them run on like that. But generally more than 99 per cent of the crowd got behind us."

The West Indian captain, Jimmy Adams, said: "I think it's unnecessary. I don't think it adds anything to the game, but there may be spectators who may think otherwise. But the majority of the public who buy tickets... do not want to see people running on the field."