Australia's cricketers have received death threats via e-mail during their Ashes tour of England.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said Sunday that officers arrested a 32-year-old man on Friday in Stoke-on-Trent, northern England, "in connection with an allegation of making threats to kill."

"It appears the Australian cricket team was the target," the spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.

Police released the man on bail and ordered him to return to a local police station on October 27. The man wasn't charged with any offense.

Police didn't give details of the threats but said officers from the Computer Crime Unit were leading the investigation.

A Cricket Australia spokesman, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the threats were sent to a generic e-mail address.

"Obviously it's highly concerning and Cricket Australia acted immediately," the source said. "There is a set procedure for dealing with these matters and that's currently being dealt with by relevant authorities.

"Given it is now a police matter, it is inappropriate to comment further."