News

Australia give go-ahead for rest of NatWest Challenge

Australia have confirmed they are happy to proceed with The NatWest Challenge - the remaining two matches are in London

Cricinfo staff
08-Jul-2005
Australia have agreed for the final two NatWest Challenge matches to go ahead as scheduled. Doubt had been cast on whether the games, at Lord's and The Oval, would go ahead after Thursday's terrorist attacks on the capital.
However, the ECB's director of cricket, John Carr, confirmed that the matches would proceed. "There has been a comprehensive review of all the security arrangements in the light of Thursday's attacks," said Carr, "and we are grateful for Cricket Australia's co-operation in considering all the relevant issues."
Australia's team manager Steve Bernard said that the tourists were happy to proceed, after they had conducted thorough investigations. "Having had the opportunity to consider all the advice on hand and discuss it with the relevant authorities at home and with our players, CA is satisfied with the security arrangements for the remainder of the NatWest Challenge," he said.
MCC have tightened security arrangements following yesterday's terrorist attacks in London and, consequently, MCC are urging spectactors to arrive as early as possible.
Security checks at the gates - bag and body searches - will take longer, as will spectators' journeys into and around London. The statement by MCC goes onto say that the match will be preceded by a minute's silence, in memory of the victims of yesterday's terrorist attacks. The teams' flags will fly at half-mast from the pavilion on Sunday.
The final fixture in this series, at The Oval, will also go ahead as scheduled, on Tuesday. The same tightening of security applies for that ground, and again spectators are being asked to arrive at the ground earlier than usual.