Sport
12 January, 2024
Summer reading: They're only half barmy!
THE ASHES are coming home ... and eight Boort cricket tragics have been there cheering the Aussies in cricket combat against poor old England. The Bears and Goulds with one honourary family member - Boort District School vice-principal Tom Bleicher...
THE ASHES are coming home ... and eight Boort cricket tragics have been there cheering the Aussies in cricket combat against poor old England.
The Bears and Goulds with one honourary family member - Boort District School vice-principal Tom Bleicher - did their pitch taking support up to and above the decibels of the Poms’ famous Barmy Army over there in the Old Dart.
“There was one day they were pretty quiet,” mused Jo Bear about the uncharacteristic silence of England’s Barmy Army as Australia batted into a good position at Headingly, Leeds.
In the spirit of co-operation the two families are now offering advice to fellow tragics, as penned by Sue Gould, Archie Bear and Jo Bear.
“With the next Ashes series in England a mere four years away, we have compiled a subjective guide to help those considering a similar trip,” the post-trip diary has recorded. Although our experiences were brief and our list is unsubstantiated, this travel guide might give Loddon residents an insight to the eccentricity of a cricket trip to England.”
Expect passion
WHEN a group of people come together sharing a common love (test cricket) expect to engage in deep conversations about the intricacies of batting, bowling, the state of the pitch and team selections.
Also expect to find diverse and quirky cricket lovers. We loved our fellow traveller who spent time at the end of each over, writing a ball-by-ball description in his tattered old Spirex notebook. There were other people that were filling out score sheets as they watched. We also befriended a retired school principal and footy coach who was catching up with one of his ex-footy charges -Andrew McDonald (Australian cricket coach).
Going on a tour such as this will mean that for five days you will be able to totally immerse yourself in cricket and can fully escape reality.
Wear bright, eclectic, happy Hawaiian influenced tour shirts
OUR shirts were provided by our no-frills tour group, and attracted lots of positive attention amongst the English. Our Boort crew were interviewed by the BBC and The Guardian’s Emma Johns.
Our prominent shirts meant that we were subjected to friendly banter and ribbing by happy English supporters.
Choose to go to one of the small English grounds
HEADINGLY Oval at Leeds - with a capacity of 18,000 people, offered an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. On day one, we sat in the very front row and to have the likes of Ben Stokes, Steve Smith and Scotty Boland a mere 10 metres away at third man, was amazing.
To hear the fielding team talking ... the sound of the ball after Marsh smacked another boundary and to see Australian fielders watch ball after ball sail over their heads, provided a clearer perspective about the match.
Rain never dampens the atmosphere
WITH rain hitting the third day, the supporters shifted to the outer verandahs to drink and chat with friends. Adapted games of cricket popped up everywhere- bollards used as wickets, plastic souvenir bats and whatever type of ball that could be found. Rules were complex which included not allowing too many Aussies to play.
Embrace the iconic Barmy Army
HOME for the army was the Western Terrace, with organisers ensuring they were well removed from the assigned seats of the Australian supporters.
Banter and singing was constant with some witty lyrics being developed such as Bon Jovi’s Halfway There (Living on a Prayer) when England got to half way in their run chase and a chant that made reference to Todd Murphy’s Harry Potter-like appearance. The Barmy Army, when in full song, light up the whole oval with a spine-tingling and unique feeling of being so grateful to be there. The Australian team ensured that if the fielders were close to the Army, they were rotated regularly.
Smith endured the biggest focus, with songs… “We saw you cry on the telly”. Local fans also pitched in with a plane flying overhead displaying a banner - “Same old Aussies” a reference to a chant - “Same old Aussies, always cheating”
Beer and Pimms never disappoint
PINTS of cold ale were aplenty with queues metres deep from the start of play until the end and beyond. Half-pints of Pimms and ice provided a reminder that we were in England and that the English know what should be drunk on a hot day.
Local pubs provide a rejuvenating haven
AFTER a long day at the cricket, the local pubs were a friendly place to rewind, discuss the day’s play and share more hearty chats with the Loiners (local citizens of Leeds). The Scarborough was our go-to local pub and their beer-battered haddock, with chips and mushy peas was splendid.
Expect English supporters to be pessimistic and self deprecating
ENGLISH cricket has had a battering over the previous Ashes series and so supporters were skeptical of Baz Ball and the prospects of winning. Even with 50 runs left to win, there was an extreme level of anxiety and tension. The Barmy Army stopped singing and you could almost hear a pin drop.
Not many women go to the cricket in England
SO finally! There was no queue for the women’s toilets!
Expect to watch test cricket being played at the highest level.
THE opportunity to witness the unfolding narrative of this memorable 2023 Ashes series, was a bucket-list moment. To see the leadership of Ben Stokes and the tactics of Baz Ball, to see the great batsmen Smith and Labuschagne falter, and the re-emergence of the big hitting Mitch Marsh, was precious. If you are a cricket lover, we cannot recommend this experience highly enough. Cricket was the winner!