Nets to keep fans off the field at the WACA

A barrier of netting will separate spectators from the playing field at the WACA this summer as the ground authorities aim to prevent pitch invaders. Last season during an ODI in Perth, a man ran on to the field and tackled the Pakistan player Khalid Latif to the ground.

The man was convicted of assault and trespass and was fined $9000, as well as being banned for life from the ground. However, the WACA is keen to prevent any similar incidents and the chief executive Graeme Wood said the netting was a way to protect the players without affecting the view for spectators.

"Nets will be placed about two metres out from the fence and will be about 1.5 or 1.6 metres in height," Wood said on the Perth radio station 6PR. "From the slope of the ground, and the slope of the banks, there will be no visual impairment. If you look east to west, you won't even notice the netting."

Wood said patrons might also have their access to alcohol reduced if excessive drinking started to become a concern during one-day internationals. Fans can purchase four drinks at a time, but Wood said the WACA was considering halving that allowance.

"Last year we had to cut it back to one drink per person at about 3pm during the one-dayer," he said. "There are no issues with the Twenty20 crowd; we have very little problems with the Test matches.

"With the one-day internationals it seems to be a small element of the crowd that are forcing us to take these sorts of measures. We're not saying we're going to impose one-drink rules from the start of play but we're looking at cutting it from four to two. This year it will be a very safe environment for everyone that comes to the WACA."