crowd

Barmy Army beware: the Fanatics are waiting

By Will 4 years ago, mid-August, 11 Comments »

The Barmy Army have been called many things – delightful, charming and eloquent aren’t often among them. When England were in the doldrums in the early 1990s, the Barmies’ antics on tour were considered irritatable, pointless and loutish by many. That soon changed, though, through clever marketing and a general appreciation from the public and media. England were losing Test matches with an ease not seen for decades, yet here were hundreds of fans cheering them on.

They were quite influential during last summer’s Ashes, too. Or, if they weren’t there en masse in England, their cheerleaders were and gradually helped spread Ashes fever among the “normal” crowd through the series. They’ve had quite an impact I’d say. What, then, do you make of this?

The MCG, which has been renovated since England played there four years ago, will be bursting with 100,000 supporters for the first two days of the Boxing Day Test. And there are plans to take on the Barmy Army, too. The Australian version of the Barmies – the Fanatics – will have a battle bus at every match and singer/songwriter Greg Champion – Australia’s answer to Chas & Dave – will perform during lunch and tea breaks. But the Barmies are old hands at Aussie-baiting. They are busy adapting Tony Christie’s Amarillo for Shane Warne. He will not like the results.

Never heard of the Fanatics myself. Scott? Any other Aussies reading? Can’t wait for “Show me the way to Amarillo.” Suggestions for Shane Warneing it below, please.

Tags: ashes, australia, barmies, barmy-army, crowd, england, fanatics, support, the-ashes |

11 Comments »

The return of the comical

By Will 4 years ago, mid-May, 4 Comments »

In an era obsessed with professionalism, multi-dimensional players and do-it-alls, today demonstrated that – in the English public’s mind at least – there is still room for the comical and absurd. Monty Panesar, who surely owns the most regal of names in English cricket, had a howler in the field, an absolute howler. I was going to write some musings on it but have just noticed my editor has done similar so, go read his.

It was just quite a comforting sight to see someone so gangly in the field; he almost appeared to have four arms, flailing around like a blind octupus. Best of all, he has been immediately accepted into the public’s bosom: they love him. In Panesar they see a man who, like thousands of club cricketers up and down the land, make the very same gaffes and howlers every Sunday. He’s human, and normal – and a damn fine bowler to boot.

I’ve written in the past about tailenders (RIP). On a similar note, I now want an influx of rubbish fielders. There’s nothing better than watching a fielder nervously kneel down, hands at the ready, preparing for the exocet to arrive before WOOPS! there it goes, straight through the gaping hole between knee and leg and through for four! Brilliant.

Rock on, Monty – and well bowled. Not only was his line immaculate – I don’t remember him bowling a single bad delivery – but his pace was perfect for the pitch. As useful as ol’ Ashley Giles was, he had a tendancy to bowl a touch too slow. In fact it’s a problem most spinners have, and is also what makes Murali and Warne so devastatingly effective. Monty is no Murali, and is certainly no Warne – but he’s a damn fine Monty and let’s be glad we have him!

Tags: crowd, funny, gaffes, howlers, monty, monty-panesar, muttiah-muralitharan, shane-warne |

4 Comments »

Rotation policy poster

By Will 4 years ago, at the start of February, 1 Comment »

Flickr user frigginawesomeimontv has a whole load of photos, mostly excellent, of today’s match between Australia and South Africa, including this gem from the crowd:

Rotation policy poster (a photo)