Unprecedented security for Ashes

Cricket Australia and state police are planning to put in place an unprecedented national security plan for the highly-anticipated Ashes series. Following recent revelations of an alleged terrorist plot to strike at Australian and English dressing rooms during the second Ashes at Edgbaston in 2005, Australian cricket authorities have confirmed that the threat of terrorism has sparked plans for the largest national security crackdown in Australia's sporting history.

Peter Young, the CA spokesman, told the Sun-Herald: "We haven't yet finalised the review of venue security arrangements for the forthcoming Ashes series, but it is fair to say there will be greater scrutiny than at any previous series we've witnessed. It's an unfortunate fact of life, but with each passing year security grows tighter. It's tighter now than it was five years ago and in ten years it will be greater still."

Young confirmed the security review would be completed by mid-November - the first Test starts on November 23 - and that some of the arrangements were likely to impact on fans. "The principle discussions are taking place between Cricket Australia, the states' cricket associations, the individual venues and their management. State police are also involved as part of all that."

The 2000 Sydney Olympics are thought to represent the biggest single security operation Australia has undertaken so far. Security for the Ashes provides a different, broader challenge, however, as the series will be played out over five venues across the country at a time when Australia remains on a heightened terrorist alert.