Inside the Barmy Army enclave at the Boxing Day Test
“It’s unique to British culture that we all support each other, for better or for worse.
“We’ll be there in the tough times, we’ll be there in the good times.”
Barmy Army celebrates one of 10 fallen Australian wickets.Credit: Chris Hopkins
England’s big-talking Bazballers were so successful at convincing their supporters that they were a chance for 3500 to fly in to join the Barmy Army on their official tour. Up to 40,000 British fans are expected to attend the band’s events in Melbourne this week.
On Christmas Day, 1,500 people attended the Barmy Army Christmas dinner at the Crown, and its official products, which can be paid in British pounds or Australian dollars, are selling faster than the top order, which fell in the afternoon session.
Charlie Chaplin (Colin Bloomfield) says he will never leave the team, no matter how badly they play.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Dressed as Charlie Chaplin, Colin Bloomfield has become an institution in the Barmy Army across six Ashes tours and has seen it all before. After Alex Carey’s wicket, Bloomfield moved into the corridor between the 12th and 13th pitches to lead a deafening chant of the Barmy Army for five minutes, but he was far from getting ahead of himself as he soon spoke over a beer in his armchair.
“We’re used to losing five-nil,” Bloomfield said. “We follow the team, we support the team and we follow them in good times and bad… Unfortunately, things have been through thick and thin on this tour.
“But we are better than that and we showed a bit more of a bottle in the last game in Adelaide and they are struggling a bit here.
“A lot of people have come from England just for these two Tests and I think the players are accepting that and really trying.”
Milo (aka the Archbishop of Canterbury) and his Beefeater friends Charlie, Matt, Paddy and Henry are among those leaving London to strengthen England’s order for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests, and they guarantee they will be out to cheer on at least a live series if not an Ashes series win.
England won’t win the Ashes but their fans are having a blast.Credit: Chris Hopkins
“When we booked our tickets a year ago we were worried about the chance of being triple zeroed, but obviously we couldn’t get a refund. That’s why we’re here, enjoying it,” Milo said.
“It would be better if we were winning but we’re here for the kids, we’re here for the sun and the beers. So we’re happy.”
“We were a little disturbed by this [beer] only 3.5 percent. That’s the only thing holding us back.”
Milo and his friends needn’t have worried. A minute later, when the Cam Green escape took place, they found the perfect place to put their crosses over my head.
It’s a moment of celebration for them and a good lesson for me too: you can prepare for the Barmy Army all you want, but no matter how ridiculous England are on the field, the Barmy Army always make the most of their moments.
Grant McArthur sees the worse England’s performance, the louder the voice of the Barmy Army becomes.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Better yet, my hat and shirt were barely dry before the Poms went five wickets down and the cricket world pulled itself together.
But if anyone thinks the Barmy Army is about to fall silent, there must be a lot more going on than a Brit sticking a finger in their ear.
With each wicket falling the army grew louder, leaving their seats and filling the aisles and standing areas to celebrate who knows what. And with so many wickets falling, the noise at the end of day one was absolutely deafening.
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Australia may win the Ashes on the field but the Barmy Army are impossible to counter and it’s silly but fun to try.
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