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| |  Tuesday, 19 June, 2001, 17:02 GMT 18:02 UK Caborn sounds cautious note The pitch invasion at Headingley left a steward injured New Sports Minister Richard Caborn has voiced his support for cricket's emergency crowd control measures. But Britain's new sport supremo refuses to back calls for new legislation against pitch invaders. Caborn spent an hour with the England and Wales Cricket Board watching the early stages of Pakistan and Australia's NatWest Series match at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, but left before play was held up after a firework was thrown on to the pitch. He examined the temporary fencing Nottinghamshire hope will restrain the crowd in the event of another attempted invasion.
Pakistan's victories over England at Edgbaston and Headingley were marred by over exuberant fans spilling onto the pitch. Before departing Caborn gave his full backing to the ECB over the attempts they have made so far to contain the situation. But he stopped short of joining the chorus for new legislation. 'Draconian measures' The ECB are increasingly leaning towards the need for new laws to prosecute spectators who encroach on the field of play. But Caborn said: "Safety is paramount, but I want to make sure we do not over-react by bringing in measures which are too draconian. "Tim Lamb and I will be meeting in the next couple of weeks for a review of what has happened.
"We want people to come in safety and enjoy. What I have seen here today is fantastic, with families and a good crowd. "Ninety five per cent of the fans want to see a good game of cricket and just enjoy a good day." Weighed against that, though, are the scenes at Headingley two days ago which saw a steward seriously injured and England captain Alec Stewart forced to concede the match. Caborn said: "I spoke to Tim about the situation at Headingley, which was quite deplorable and not in the spirit of cricket as we know it in England. "I have been made aware of all the precautions taken and I hope now that what has been done will ensure a good spectacle and good crowd behaviour as well." | |
See also:  18 Jun 01 | NatWest Series Top NatWest Series stories now: Links to more NatWest Series stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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