Major, who is president of Surrey County Cricket Club, was speaking at the announcement of his county's new £2million ($2.79m)-plus ground sponsorship deal with financial services company AMP.
He said he was outraged by the week’s activities which have seen hordes of Pakistan supporters twice surge onto the wicket before the end of matches and firecrackers let off in the stands and thrown on the field.
He told sportbusiness.com: “We all have a right to enjoy sport without it being ruined and if that means we have to look at legislative ways of deterring a minority, then I am absolutely in favour of that. If the government do it, they will have my full support.”
He added: “I don’t think that a handful of people, some of them perhaps over-enthusiastic, others behaving very foolishly – some of them a hooligan element – should be permitted to spoil the enjoyment of the game for every other spectator both at the ground and on television, and spoil the image of the game.
“I am certainly in favour of the Government looking and discussing with the cricket authorities to ensure there is a proper mechanism for dealing with this sort of misbehaviour.
“You simply must be able to ensure that the game can be played uninterrupted and that the players and umpires are safe.”
In a quip at Sports Minister Richard Caborn, who within a week of office failed to answer a number of sporting questions on a radio show, Major added: “I hope our new Sports Minister - when he knows who he is - gives it some serious consideration."
Permanent fencing and moats have been suggested as further deterrents in preventing fans encroaching onto the field. But Major, who watched last night's shenanigans on television, said: "I don't know anybody who would like to see them at cricket grounds. People want to bring the family out and enjoy the cricket.
"I hope we can find a way of ensuring the hooligan element is deterred without having to resort to that sort of eventuality. I think that would be a disaster for cricket if we had to do that but we have to ensure that the players and umpires could be guaranteed their safety.
Australian paceman Brett Lee has admitted that he was afraid of being blinded after narrowly escaping being hit in the face by a firecracker during last night's NatWest Series clash with Pakistan at Trent Bridge.
Lee was fearful for his sight as he fielded on the fine leg boundary when targeted by a supporter in the area heavily populated with Pakistan fans underneath the main electronic scoreboard.
Former British Prime Minister John Major has told sportbusiness.com he will support any government moves to outlaw cricket hooligans following crowd trouble that has marred the current NatWest Series in England.
