LONDON - England now considers a cricket ball to be an offensive weapon.
An English cricket fan learnt this to his misfortune when he was stopped and questioned by police in London for carrying a cricket ball in public late last month.
Accountant Chris Hurd, 28, was onhis way to work during the first Ashes Test and was planning to join friends that night to watch the cricket at the pub.
After working on his bowling technique in the morning, Hurd was carrying the ball in his hand at Baker Street Underground station when he was taken aside by a police officer.
According to Hurd, the female officer questioned him for 10 minutes about why he was carrying a potentially lethal weapon.
"I told her I was only carrying (it) because the Ashes were about to start and I was very excited," Hurd said.
"She was completely humourless and showed no understanding of my excitement.
"When she let me go and gave my ball back, she said she was being extremely lenient with me.
"How can a cricket ball be an offensive weapon?
"I don't think it would be anyone's weapon of choice and all I was doing was holding it."