Apart from Cook’s double century, Hussey and Haddin’s 300-run stand and Siddle’s thrilling hat-trick, the crowds were also a source of entertainment.
All day long, the Barmy Army would go through their impressive repertoire of cheers, with their previously banned trumpeter now in tow, they got louder, and rowdier as the day went on. Whether or not this was due to the alcohol they consumed is irrelevant, because the fact remains – the Barmy Army made the Gabba feel like it was Day 2 at Edgbaston.
They’ve had to drop the taunting, “We’re fat, we’re round, three dollars to the pound”, but all the favourites were still there: ‘Rule Britannia’, ‘God save your gracious Queen’, ‘Everywhere we go’, the frightfully catchy ‘Convict colony’ (sung to the tune of Yellow Submarine by The Beatles) and the never-ending rhapsody ‘We are the army’.
But what could our Aussies supporters offer in return?
Well, not much.
When Kevin Pietersen sat on the rope he was met with a chorus of Australian supporters chanting “Kevin’s a w*****” followed by claps. To his credit, Pietersen gladly clapped along and waved his hands to follow the melody, but surely there was something better on the horizon from Aussie fans?
Nope.
The Australian crowd barely made a noise.
There were bursts of “C’mon Aussie C’mon, C’mon” but they were short-lived. The only highlight for me was the rapturous “Siiii-ddle” chant which followed his hat-trick, and upon Paul Collingwood being picked to bowl, “Bo-riiing”, but that was about it.
Cursing at players and two syllable chants. We should be so proud.
And it’s not just the cheering where the English fans dominate. Whether you were at the ground or watching on television, the Gabba was quite clearly a sea of red and white with St. George’s Crosses everywhere, but barely an Aussie flag in sight. Australian fans are normally a flag-happy crowd, but there was a lot left to be desired during the first test.
Even though I saw more Australiana than in a tourist souvenir shop, it still looked as though we were vastly outnumbered!
On day five, the lacklustre attendance brought ol’ Sir Ian Botham into the mix, where he slammed the Australian crowd, calling on a game of “spot the Aussie”.
So what happened to us? It was the Australian media that christened the Barmy Army and encouraged this rivalry between the poms and Australians, but it’s clear, their supporters have outdone us and it’s doing no favours to our cricketers, with Ricky Ponting booed onto the pitch on home soil!
Our equivalent to the Barmy Army, the Fanatics, are just no match. The English are far more devoted to their team than we are. Just look at the last time the Ashes were played in Australia.
A whopping 40,000 poms flew down under only to see their team get thrashed 5-0. But despite this, they’re still a cheerful group, and I saw much of the same at the Gabba last week.
On day one and two when England looked all but done for, the Barmy Army didn’t quit. You think they are loud when they are losing? You should have heard them by day five! But Australian fans are very different. There seems to be an attitude of ‘when we’re winning, we’re there, when we’re not, why turn up?’
The Adelaide test has just begun, and so far, especially after the Katich dismissal, it looks like we’re outnumbered again. I did hear ‘Waltzing Matilda’, but again, it seems to me that the Barmy Army is louder and prouder than our own.
C’mon Aussie fans, c’mon!
macavity
Roar Pro
"The Americans cant chant either" American college football crowds are the best in world sport - bar none. They may not sing long complicated songs like the poms.... but 100,000 chanting their asses off, accompanied by a 500 piece brass band, sounds phenomenal.
Steve
Guest
You can't change a cultural difference in a short period of time. Chanting has been going on for 100's of years in the UK . It used to be common in a pub for a guy to start singing a song, and everyone would join in the chorus , before that it was common to sing and chant in certain work related activities, and especially in the Navy and the Army Most sports fans grew up listening to people chanting at games , know many of the songs and find it a completely normal activity to get involved with. The Americans cant chant either all they do is USA! USA! USA! , and when Ricky Hatton was fighting in Vegas they were not sure what to make of songs like 'Hatton Wonderland' etc. Golf has been the latest sport to become involved with the latest Ryder cup in South Wales, probably as the sport becomes more accessible to the normal people.
Derby County FC
Guest
I kind of find these articles a little annoying. Chanting and singing are a tried and tested part of our culture. Of course we'll outsing Australia because it's just not part of yours, no matter.' The only time i hear singing is at A-League matches and even then they only do it when a bloke with a megaphone tells them to, try and start a chant on your own or in response to what is happening on the field and inevitably they look at you like you are stark raving mad. Mickh I can understand that this singing might get on some people's nerves but really, it's all toungue in cheek. I can assure you that at the end of the day anyone who wants to be sociable is welcome to come and have a drink with the Army, give a bit to them and get a bit back, shake hands and get on with the next day. Comparing them to marauding, idiotic football fans is nonsense, don't tar them with the same brush because they are not the same (and by the way, the vast majority of the 1000's and 1000's of English football fans are very friendly). Oh, and the Army do go to other countries and they do sing like we sing here and other countries do tolerate us. We might put on a good show for the Aussies but at the end of the day you're really no more special than any other country we go to. Oh and by the way a-league crowds are segregated.
Derby County FC
Guest
Spiro I can assure that there are no such cheer leaders in England. Anyone can start a chant and people just join in, it's not hard.
mickh
Guest
another dig from Darwin. Who would have thought. Keep up the good work.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Australians don't go to the cricket for the cricket any more. they go for the social occasion. Bonding time with son and heir etc. this is not a group of men who engender passion. tattoos, multiple adverts for grog, gambling and fast food, over paid, underperformed. At least punter does vitamins. they are just not producing the performances that inspire. I exclude Hussey. his two were right out of the top draw.......... once England win this or the next test, and the series is gone, i would be picking youngsters. changing the coach, the selectors and getting Katich to captain them for a season or two, where we will see some bright young things (new blood, age not important) get to grips with Test cricket. Forget evolving this team. there will be few left and the culture has to change. I would also look to reinvent cricket, break the mold. For example, a team that is choc full of good fieldsmen, and plenty of all rounders. So, here are some names: Bowlers who do something to get wickets when nothing is happening. (quick, swing or cut the ball): the minimum standard is 25 runs per wicket; Copeland, Cameron, Swann (he swings the ball even if he is 32) Batsmen who have good technique and have scored plenty in SS. minimum standard is1st class av of 48+ D Hussey, Marsh, McDonald, 1. Watson 2. Katich (C) 3. Hussey 4. Kawaja 5. Ponting 6. Haddin 7. Christian 8. Hauritz 9. Bolinger 10. Siddle/Harris 11. Cameron 5 quicks, and Hauritz with Katich as back up
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
What's sarcastic about pointing out how unimaginative, boring (and I'm sure embarrassing to a large chunk of ockers) that particular chant is - obviously you enjoy it - good luck to you
mickh
Guest
The comment I was replying to was your usual sarcastic derogatory one liner. Did you expect not to get a reply?
ChrisT
Guest
Mickh Your rather snotty comments do your arguments no favours. Claiming the high ground with the observation Aussie sports fans 'watch, absorb and move on' contradicts every experience I've had amongst an Australian sports crowd. You watch and give out the very same racist and pompous comments you accuse others of. Personally, I think you make sport such a religion here, so central to your own identity and place on the world stage, you've forgotten how to have a good time watching it. I don't think I've ever heard the word 'hero' misused so much as I have in my eight years in Australia. There is no tradition of singing here and try as the media and administrators might, you can't invent or force one. Similarly there isn't the same tradition for the overseas 'sports tour' that creates a special unity amongst fans. Vive la difference and try to relax mate. You might enjoy it more.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
All I'm saying is don't lump all supporters together - I was at the world cup in SA with the kiwis and they were as far removed from a rugby crowd than you can get - definitely vocal and witty And wrong I don't just reply - think you'll find you were replying to a comment made
Ben S
Roar Guru
One man's riot is one man's crowd disturbance. Exactly. So whilst you may not have taken to the barmy army, I'm sure others have, just like I'm sure various English people have taken to various Australian sports fans over the years, but then I'm sure there's countless who haven't and would explain themselves just as you have.
mickh
Guest
Darwin I was saying that you love to have a dig at us when you're supporters are no more imaginative. All you do here on this site is reply to responses you don't like.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
What has union and league got to do with this - and are you suggesting there's been no crowd disturbances at Australian venues ? - the unimaginative oz, oz, oz, oi, oi, oi cuts across all sports unfortunately - but hey you go for it - from your responses so far it's obviously at your level
mickh
Guest
You're right. It's not there sole intent to come here and have a stab, but "while where here lads lets put the boot in as well. " My point is that we are a very tolerant crowd that embraces the Barmy Army. Many other countries wouldn't. It's just that they sometimes behave like spoilt children that go too far because they aren't pulled up by anyone. But as I have mentioned, they are mostly fun and good natured. Also one mans riot is another mans crowd disturbance. Fact is, opposing supporters are treated with great hospitality here. Reciprocal respect wouldn't go astray sometimes.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'Your comment about peacefull touring English football fans singing merrily amongst Brazillian supporters is just plain wrong. The fact that football crowds in your country and overseas are segregated says a lot about the state of play there. English footballer supporters may sing in other countries, but they do it behind security guards and wire fencing. Was there not a riot just last week in the EPL.?' I'm confused - you're criticising English football for segregated crowds, yet simultaneously mention the fact it is de regueur 'overseas' which makes your criticism redundant. Further, you're fudging domestic football with international football, and no, there wasn't a riot in the EPL, there was crowd disturbances during a cup tournament. Btw, I very much doubt that English supporters travelled all the way to Australia with the sole intent of having 'a stab', or to do whatever else it is your suggesting they want to do.
mickh
Guest
The songs are funny, but we've heard it for years. The funny songs are funny. The pompous, patronising intentions of a lot of those ditties just reinforces our suspicions that a lot of English supporters are here just to have a stab and dig up some antiquated notion of your Imperialist past. Your comment about peacefull touring English football fans singing merrily amongst Brazillian supporters is just plain wrong. The fact that football crowds in your country and overseas are segregated says a lot about the state of play there. English footballer supporters may sing in other countries, but they do it behind security guards and wire fencing. Was there not a riot just last week in the EPL.? Most people here enjoy and tolerate the Barmy Army but get annoyed about the perceived need to invent some kind of reply just to please them. We don't sing at sports matches. I wish people would just get over it.
Nambucco Deliria
Guest
What is there to 'get away with'? English football fans have been travelling to Brazil (and indeed all over the world) since the 1950 World Cup and they've always sung. Obviously singing God Save Your Queen in Rio de Janeiro wouldn't have quite the same effect...I think the problem is these songs tend to be meant to be funny, so if you don't have a sense of humour they probably don't work for you. On your other point, considering English football hooliganism was at it's height in the seventies I think it's drawing a long bow to say they'd have been 'beaten into submission' if they'd appeared on the hill. Mind you, irony hadn't been introduced to sporting crowds then so our boys probably wouldn't have been chanting 'get your crappy stars off our flag', and your boys wouldn't have gotten all hot and bothered about it.
Brett McKay
Expert
Sing when we're winning, We only sing when we're winning...
Melanie Dinjaski
Roar Guru
Haha, maybe I should!
Melanie Dinjaski
Roar Guru
Never fear Hutchoman. I'm pretty sure there was an inflatable sex doll bouncing about the crowd at one stage. They haven't banned those yet.