Invasions threat to tours

Pakistan would certainly have beaten England in their latest NatWest Series game as they required only four runs with six wickets in hand when the pitch was invaded by 'visiting fans'.

But they should still have had to win the tie themselves and not force England captain Alec Stewart to set a potentially disastrous precedent of conceding defeat to avoid potential harm to any of his players in a re-started game.

Next time a team has just two or three wickets remaining and their supporters feel another invasion will clinch them the result -- or spare them a loss -- then they may need little encouragement to flood the playing area again.

After similar incidents during England's day-nighter against Pakistan at Edgbaston, temporary fencing was erected at Trent Bridge last night but even that failed to stop some of the problems as, although thankfully there was no pitch invasions, the Aussies still had to go off because of fireworks.

Cricket's name has been dragged through the mud all too often in recent times due to the on-going match-fixing scandal.

But for it to be blighted by crowd control problems is almost beyond comprehension.

Apart from the appalling erection of barriers and the use of police dogs, alternative solutions to the crisis would appear to be arrests and heavy fines for supporters unlawfully coming onto the pitch while games are in progress -- as happens in Australia.

More drastically and tragically for the sport and the majority of well-behaving Pakistan followers, the ECB may be tempted to think twice about inviting Pakistan to play in one-day tournaments in this country.

That may sound like a Draconian measure and it would be grossly unfair to deprive the well behaved cricket lovers, both English and of Asian origin, of the chance to watch some of the best and most exciting players in the world.

It would also prevent world-class players like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Inzamam Ul Haq from playing on some of the game's great stages.

But it can't be ignored that those guilty of disrupting the recent matches at Edgbaston, Headingley and Trent Bridge purported to be Pakistan 'supporters', albeit a section whose interest may not be purely a cricketing one.

There's no reason why they should spoil things for everyone else. When it comes to cricket-watching, there are plenty of over-indulgent English fans who do the game and their country no credit.

But if the common denominator in the recent problems is an element of Pakistan supporters, the authorities might choose to save themselves one problem when they apparently still have others to solve by reducing the fixtures against their country.

Hopefully a peaceful final at Lord's on Saturday will render such a notion needless and we can all carry on together.

IT appears Rishton's form this summer could be described as red-hot in every sense.

Peter Sleep's men could be about to bring the glory days back to Blackburn Road as they chase silverware in both the Transco Lancashire League and the Inter League Trophy.

But according to a dressing room insider it hasn't been a comfy ride.

The team joker (no names, no pack-drill) has taken to lining the jockstraps of Sleep, professional Clinton Perren et al with a liberal dose of fiery jack !

On the subject of Rishton, apologies to the professional for mis-spelling his name last week. It's a poor excuse for muddling my Perrins with my Perrens but in mitigation I would point out that my downfall was using the official Lancashire League handbook as my point of reference.

THERE were mixed feelings in Burnley when the Clarets were paired with League newcomers Rushden and Diamonds in the first round of the Worthington Cup.

While welcoming the chance to take on brand-new opposition in a highly winnable tie, there was also dismay that the tie is at Turf Moor.

Rushden's Nene Park home remains one of the few unvisited grounds for many Clarets fans and would have provided a welcome 'tick' for those still looking to join the 92 Club.