These moves to crack down on crowd rowdyism - likely to be followed by other Test grounds - follow troubles during the Edgbaston Test in May when 106 people were ejected, including a record 63 on the Saturday as many took to the bars during the rained-off first session.
Dennis Amiss, Warwickshire's chief executive, carried out an internal inquiry and the England and Wales Cricket Board will be using his report as the basis for formulating a series of proposals next month. An ECB spokesman said: ``We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness.''
At Edgbaston there were many complaints about the behaviour of groups of bizarrely dressed young men in the cheapest seating on the Rea Bank stand, chanting football fashion, shouting obscene remarks and dancing in the aisles.
At Old Trafford people wearing dress deemed offensive and ``full body suits'' (pelicans, teddy bears and the like) will be refused admission. The county say hats, wigs and head-dress restricting the view of others will not be tolerated. Only members will be able to bring drinks with them but alcohol will still be available from the ground's public bars.
Edgbaston's problems were portrayed in a particularly poor light when set against the Lord's Test a fortnight later, where in four days there were only four ejections among more than 100,000 spectators.
Lord's and the Oval appear the two grounds least troubled by rowdyism. This may be connected with the different demographic make-up of Test crowds in the south but not everyone loves Lord's: one critic described its atmosphere as ``antiseptic''.
This newspaper's own investigations suggest that the source of most trouble is the too-free availability of alcohol, allied to an over-tolerant attitude towards the troublesome minority.
ALCOHOL: There are varying limits on the amount of drink spectators bring in. All grounds have the power to close the bars if they sense that trouble is building up but views vary about the wisdom of this step.
Warwickshire are considering shutting the bars in future without prior warning. They, along with other grounds, believe that unannounced closure prevents the stockpiling of alcohol.
Lord's, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire - whose Western Terrace at Headingley once had the reputation of the worst behaved crowd already do that.
Lancashire question the wisdom of closing their bars without warning. David Arrowsmith, stadium manager at Old Trafford, says such action could create even bigger problems. ``If there is a long queue for the bar and you suddenly close it the crowd can get very angry.''
ROWDYISM: All grounds have regulations dealing with misbehaviour but some appear more tolerant than others.
MCC at Lord's have a policy of selling only four tickets per application for international games. Surrey and Nottinghamshire allow 10 per applicant, Yorkshire eight while Lancashire and Warwickshire have no limit - but Edgbaston are to change that policy after their recent troubles.
Surrey's chief executive, Paul Sheldon, says there is no need for such action at the Oval. ``We have such a huge demand for tickets that we don't experience the same sort of trouble as other grounds.'' At Lord's, ticket-holders who turn up in outlandish dress are refused entry but other grounds take a more relaxed view.
Mark Arthur, the Nottinghamshire chief executive, said: ``We don't want to be draconian. We want people to enjoy a Trent Bridge experience. Dressing up can be part of the party.''
Sheldon adds: ``As long as people are dressed decently we are happy to be as tolerant as possible.''
Yorkshire have decided to get tough with the strangely-clad. Secretary David Ryder says new ground rules will prevent people entering in garb which might cause an obstruction or a nuisance to others.
The clubs generally accept that when groups of spectators become virtually ``a law unto themselves'' - unending chanting, performing mass congas as they did at Edgbaston - this presents a major headache for stewards if ring-leaders are not immediately taken out.
Lancashire's moves have already upset the Barmy Army brigade. Spokesman Paul Burnham said: ``We dress up for a bit of fun and it is typical of English cricket that they don't realise fun is the only future for the game.
``They are happy to look after their corporate guests but the genuine fans get overlooked.''