Buzzin Cricket

Since Michael Vaughan lifted the Ashes urn aloft to rapturous cheers at the Oval in 2005, the good times have been few and far between for the English cricket fan. Home test series defeats to India and South Africa, along with the humiliating 5-0 whitewash in Australia have provided a serious reality check to anyone that thought the extraordinary series in the summer of 2005 was going to signal the start of a glorious era of English cricket. The team are certainly not in as good a shape as many would have hoped heading into the 2009 Ashes.

The heavy defeat in the Stanford Twenty20 match, coupled with the twin dismissals of captain Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores mean that the side go into the tour of the West Indies at a low ebb. However, try telling that to the hundreds of supporters that will follow them to the Caribbean.

Widely regarded as the best cricket supporters in the world, the ‘Barmy Army‘ are famous for their imaginative songs, sense of humour and the amount of fun they bring to stadiums, particularly on overseas tours. They will once again provide the soundtrack to England’s four tests and five one day internationals.

Despite English sports fans having a somewhat tarnished reputation when travelling abroad, the Barmy Army’s charm and wit has won them immense popularity among foreign opponents, something which their media manager Paul Winslow says is vitally important: “The image we have overseas is even better than it is in Britain,” he says.

“We’re hugely popular, the media interest is immense and everyone enjoys the banter and atmosphere we bring to games.”

This unique atmosphere is much commented on, with even Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting calling the Barmy Army “the best sporting fans in the world.” As unusual though it might be for an Australian to admit an English strength, Ponting’s view is reciprocated by Australian journalist Graeme Sims.

Sims is editor of Australia’s ‘Inside Sport’ magazine, and he says that the admiration for the Barmy Army is shared by most cricket observers Down Under: “They’re a bit crude at times, but never violent, and their cheeky wit lends them a charm that helps carry it off.” he explains. “I think it’s a view shared by most if not all commentators, who think they add fabulous colour.”

Sims says this is a huge contrast to most Autralian fans: “It is still a bit alien for more reserved Aussie cricket fans, who aren’t used to singing at sporting events, and prefer the peace and quiet.”

Despite traditional national stereotypes labelling the British as the more reserved nation, Sims says the Barmy Army still represent a certain British characteristic: “It’s a bit of a stretch to say they totally represent a national character, but there’s certainly something fabulously and hilariously British about the Army.”

The Army’s Winslow agrees that while the Barmy Army is a diverse organisation, the more traditionally British elements of their character tend to shine through: “There’s certainly the black humour element and the ‘mad dogs and Englishmen’ feel,” he says.

“Why would you pay so much money to go and watch sport overseas when your team is not very good? Who knows? I think there’s an element of a British love of sport, there’s an element of our love of travelling and an element of madness.”

Certainly, to observe the Army at work at an overseas Test venue is to see a group of sports followers that could only really come from English shores. Formed in 1994 and given their name by the Australian media, the Army are led in song by “Jimmy”, a fan given his nickname due to his resemblence to Jimmy Saville.

Witty banners and songs are the Army’s unofficial trademark, and, while the Aussies usually bear the brunt of the good natured banter, the Barmy Army aren’t scared to poke fun at themselves either.

Although English football jerseys are just as frequently spotted amongst the hoardes as cricket shirts, the Army’s mantra couldn’t be further a way from the image only recently shaken off by English football followers.

“We have worked hard over many years to create something which has a great reputation and we fight hard to keep that,” says Winslow. Paid up members sign up to a code of conduct, we are very proud of our reputation.”

It is clearly a reputation which goes before them, and interaction with local communities and cricket fans on overseas tours is high on the list of priorities. Despite spending much of their time travelling between venues, the Army attempt to see as much of the local culture as possible, as Winslow explains: “For many people, including myself, following England is an opportunity to combine a passion for cricket with a passion for travel and the world.”

“We use our spare time to visit the sights and talk to the locals. We also do a lot of charity work overseas – particularly in places like Sri Lanka.”

For the members of the Barmy Army travelling to the Caribbean, seeing new captain Andrew Strauss lead his beleaguered side to a series victory would be the dream outcome, although whatever the result, the Barmy Army are likely to leave their mark.

“Our sense of humour seems to set us apart,” claims Winslow. “A sense of humour that enables you to see the funny side in travelling all the way to Australia to see your side lose 5-0. We don’t take ourselves too seriously but at the same time people realise that we are representing our country.”