Barmy Army thrash Aussies
December 18th 2006 11:25
England may have been comprehensively beaten in their pursuit to regain the Ashes, but their fans have taken the points off the field. The Barmy Army as they are called, have provided amazing support for their team and created an atmosphere not matched by any other group of sport supporters.
The Barmy Army aren’t like the famous English Soccer hooligans who make headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Army are well behaved and use wit as their main source of humour. They have approximately 60 chants, many targeting Shane Warne and his well known scandals. But it’s all in good fun.
The Army has the goal to make cricket more fun and popular and they certainly have achieved this. Some Cricket traditionalists find their loud, repetitive chanting annoying and disruptive. These people need to wake up. The Army have proved very learned in their knowledge of the game and have appreciated the great cricket Australia has played. But they love their team and will encourage them as much as they can.
The Barmy Army have embarrassed their Aussie competitors, known as The Fanatics. The Fanatics are well known for their support in Davis Cup Tennis, but have been overwhelmed by the Army. The Fanatics only seem to make noise when Australia is dominating. It’s easy to cheer a team as successful as the Australians. What is difficult is to support a team that is getting thrashed. Imagine if the Aussies were losing? Sure the English fans have historically been used to their team losing, but not in recent years. Remember, before this current series England had only lost one Test series in the last four years.
When Australia claimed the Ashes straight after lunch on the 5th day, there were scenes of jubilation and emotion from the Australian players and their supporters in the crowd. Australia had reclaimed the Ashes they had embarrassingly lost 15 months earlier, and it was their moment. However the Barmy Army were not to be outdone. Even if their team had just lost the Ashes in a disastrous series so far, the Army proved they are the best supporters in the world.
The noise generated by the Army in the moments after Australia regained the Ashes was remarkable. It was like England had just won the Test or even defended the Ashes. No, they had lost but it didn’t stop the Army passionately supporting their team. This is when a team needs the support. Not after thrashing an opposition, it’s when you’re down and out.
England has lost to the Aussies on the field, but have annihilated them off it. Kerry O’Keefe summed it up best on the 5th day commentary remarking: “The Barmy Army are the best supporters in the world.”
The Barmy Army aren’t like the famous English Soccer hooligans who make headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Army are well behaved and use wit as their main source of humour. They have approximately 60 chants, many targeting Shane Warne and his well known scandals. But it’s all in good fun.
The Barmy Army have embarrassed their Aussie competitors, known as The Fanatics. The Fanatics are well known for their support in Davis Cup Tennis, but have been overwhelmed by the Army. The Fanatics only seem to make noise when Australia is dominating. It’s easy to cheer a team as successful as the Australians. What is difficult is to support a team that is getting thrashed. Imagine if the Aussies were losing? Sure the English fans have historically been used to their team losing, but not in recent years. Remember, before this current series England had only lost one Test series in the last four years.
When Australia claimed the Ashes straight after lunch on the 5th day, there were scenes of jubilation and emotion from the Australian players and their supporters in the crowd. Australia had reclaimed the Ashes they had embarrassingly lost 15 months earlier, and it was their moment. However the Barmy Army were not to be outdone. Even if their team had just lost the Ashes in a disastrous series so far, the Army proved they are the best supporters in the world.
The noise generated by the Army in the moments after Australia regained the Ashes was remarkable. It was like England had just won the Test or even defended the Ashes. No, they had lost but it didn’t stop the Army passionately supporting their team. This is when a team needs the support. Not after thrashing an opposition, it’s when you’re down and out.
England has lost to the Aussies on the field, but have annihilated them off it. Kerry O’Keefe summed it up best on the 5th day commentary remarking: “The Barmy Army are the best supporters in the world.”
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