SYDNEY - Quarantine officials were "knocked for six" this week when they foiled two unlucky Sydneysiders' attempts to import fresh turf and soil from London's historic Lord's cricket ground.

Two packages, complete with certificates of authenticity, arrived at Sydney's international mail centre late on Tuesday night, marked as "sporting (cricket) goods".

The cricket-loving mail inspectors were forced to put personal temptation aside and confiscate the prized earth.

"They [quarantine officials] were quite surprised, 'knocked for six' was the expression one of them used. They were very surprised to find something of that nature," Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service's (AQIS) NSW international mail manager Craig Hall told AAP.

"They can understand the interest of it and how it is an unusual item but from a quarantine perspective it unfortunately can't be allowed in the country."

According to the Lord's official website, cricket fans were given the opportunity to buy some of the landmark's turf, which has been removed this month to make way for an improved and faster-draining outfield.

Hall said the sheer size of the turf surprised the AQIS officers.

"It is very unusual to get something of this nature, that is for sure, especially as large as this.

"The turf itself is in lots of 40cm by 40cm so they are quite substantial pieces.

"We come across a whole raft of products, everything from different types of exotic foods, fruit, occasionally we get live animals. Every day is a smorgasbord out here but we rarely come across sporting memorabilia."

The two separate addressees have been given the chance to re-export the material, which will otherwise be destroyed, Hall said.

"We have given them the option to send these items back overseas if they wish, at their own expense, or we will hold them for a period of time and then destroy them."

In the wake of the foot and mouth outbreak in Europe last year, AQIS staff screen 100 per cent of all international mail entering Australia using X-ray machines and quarantine detector dogs.

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.