Sports ground security will reach a staggering new level in the Ashes with 800 facial recognition cameras installed at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The fifth test begins today where the 46,000 spectators will be under the constant gaze of a $3.8m system which can monitor every face and even zero in on unattended bags. The cameras installed on light towers are so powerful they can zoom in on faces 1.5 km away.
New anti-terrorist security measures also include the SCG encouraging fans to use clear bags, with separate queues for quicker access to the ground.
This is not just an anti-terrorist measure however, with a handful of "known troublemakers" barred from entering the ground for an A-league football game when the facial recognition system was trialled
The Sydney Telegraph reported that "the increased security measures have been implemented by authorities in the wake of attacks at sporting and music venues across the world".