No threat to Edgbaston Test

West Midlands police insist there is no danger of the third Test between England and India being postponed.

Third Test to go ahead as planned despite riots

West Midlands police insist there is no danger of the third Test between England and India being postponed, despite unrest reaching Birmingham on Monday evening. England and India's players were forced to remain in their city-centre hotels once it became clear gangs of looters were making large parts of the surrounding areas no-go zones. Indeed, the international football fixture between England and Holland at Wembley has already been postponed because of the riots in London. Match commander Inspector Howard Lewis Jones said: "A lot of planning and preparation has gone into this event. We have worked very closely with the club and police resources have been set accordingly. The Test match will not take away resources from policing the wider Birmingham area. "West Midlands police recognise the importance of this event and the spectators will be looking forward to this match." An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman also confirmed during practice at Edgbaston on Tuesday that there is no reason at this stage to suspect that the disturbances have put the Test match in jeopardy. "Everything is as normal at this stage. We will continue on that basis unless we are told anything different," he said. Warwickshire Cricket Club also issued a statement 24 hours before play is set to commence, making it clear they expect the match - which has attracted near-record ticket sales - to go ahead as planned. It read: "Warwickshire County Cricket Club wishes to respond to the media enquiries it has received by confirming that the third npower Test match between England and India at Edgbaston will proceed as planned, and play will begin tomorrow at 11am as scheduled. "If there are any changes to plans, a further announcement will be made."