Australian captain Ricky Ponting has expressed confidence over security measures being taken by Cricket Australia in response to media reports of a terror threat to the team during the Ashes tour last year.
"We are totally confident in the security precautions Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association (players' union) take on our behalf," Ponting said in a statement today.
"Cricket Australia and the ACA have a track record of keeping us informed and acting on security information when and if the situation warrants."
Referring to the report in the 'Sunday Times' that Australian and England teams were a terror target during the Edgbaston Test last year, Ponting said they still trusted their Cricket Board's efforts to ensure players' safety.
"With regards to this report, we were very comfortable with the security arrangements that were in place during the recent Ashes tour and we continue to trust the security information provided to us by Cricket Australia and the ACA."
Commenting on the report, CA chief executive officer James Sutherland said they took detailed advice from a range of specialist experts, including UK experts such as the London Metropolitan Police and made its decisions in consultation with the ACA and players on the basis of that advice.
"At no stage then or since was there any specific issue relating to the Australian or England teams raised with us. We took detailed advice and acted on that advice," Sutherland said.
"The tragic terrorism attacks in the UK last year were a cause of great concern for us, our players and for the team management group travelling with the players during at that time," he said.
"We work with the Australian Cricketers Association to take expert security advice from a range of security agencies and specialists before we make decisions about whether tours should go ahead or not," he added.