Cricket: Barmy Army bugler banned

Barmy Army trumpet player Bill Cooper has been banned from playing at the fourth Ashes test at Headingley. Photo / Getty Images

LONDON - Barmy Army trumpet player Bill Cooper has been banned from playing at Headingley as English cricket officials crack down on crowd control for the fourth Ashes test against Australia.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club chief executive Stewart Regan confirmed on Wednesday Cooper would not be allowed to perform within the Leeds ground.

"It goes against ground regulations," Regan told the Evening Standard.

"We have decided in conjunction with our security officer we will not allow musical instruments in the ground."

Cooper was prevented from playing during the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia, sparking a row between the famous England supporters' group and the cricket hierarchy.

Yorkshire have also increased steward levels for the match and will close bars for one hour during afternoons.

The moves come amid concerns over unruly crowd behaviour, particularly during the second and third tests.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was booed and jeered at Lord's and Edgbaston, prompting England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke to call for an end to the insults.

Clarke has written in the Headingley match program that Ponting has earned the respect and courtesy of the crowd and that the game may never see his like again.

He asks supporters to respect both teams in the critical clash starting Friday with England leading the five-match series 1-0.

But Ponting has said he wasn't bothered by the crowd reception, and was joined by teammates Marcus North and Shane Watson in praising the atmosphere during the series.

- AAP