SYDNEY, Aug 3: Australian team could decide to abandon the Ashes tour if there are more terrorist bombings in England, fast bowler Jason Gillespie said in remarks reported on Wednesday. Gillespie was quoted in The Sydney Morning Herald saying the Australian team, many of whom are travelling with their families, had been unnerved by the July 7 wave of suicide bombings that killed 56 people on London’s transport system.

“If another bomb did go off here in England, there would be serious questions asked, I think, about the tour because I know a lot of the guys are quite nervous,” Gillespie was quoted as telling a Melbourne radio station.

“A lot of guys have got their families and wives here and it’s not so much us, it’s them as well,” he said.

The paper said a full-time security consultant had been with the Australian team since the July 7 bombings and that team officials have decided to continue the tour until they are advised otherwise.

Gillespie though said another bombing could be the final straw.

“I must admit that if something else did happen, we have to start questioning why we are here,” he said.

Skipper Ricky Ponting distanced himself from Gillespie’s comments.

“We are all aware of these issues that have taken place over the last few weeks,” Ponting said. “I think one thing that has been made clear is that the safety and security of the Australian team will not be an issue at all. Issues like this have been handled extremely well by Cricket Australia.”—AFP