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The Forum > Article Comments > Cricket, beer and the Barmy Army > Comments

Cricket, beer and the Barmy Army : Comments

By David Rowe, published 23/11/2006

The republican debate gets played out in its roughest, most visceral form - the popular politics of the sporting theatre.

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Two thoughts: first, the Queen will be rooting for the English team so what does that tell Australian 'lackeys' about the need for a republic; and secondly, it is not a far step from the chants of the Barmy Army to hooliganism.

It is sport after all and if both sides cannot appluad good play on either side they shouldn't be welcome at the oval.

It is interesting why yobbos, be the English or Australian, just have to hurl abuse in public. it is attention seeking isn't it and it represents a few seconds of fame for them. They should be discouraged so everyone can enjoy the game.
Posted by Cornflower, Thursday, 23 November 2006 2:58:15 PM
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Depends what kind of abuse you're talking of, Cornflower. The lyrics sung by the Barmy Army are designed to offend, though you'd need to be somewhat precious to take it seriously. The obvious challenge is to come up with a riposte even better than theirs.

The whole issue of who the queen supports I don't think rates a moment's thought in 99.9% of cricket fans - purely an academic take, unless we're talking about the constitution...which is why we have such diversions as sport in the first place. Despite all that it's a useful little wedge the poms can use to 'ave a go at the colonials - much like we rib them about the English weather. All it shows is they've got a sense of humour. Endearing, what?

There's much to be said for tradition, & in my opinion the barmy army, now firmly established and virtually a tourist attraction in their own right, are one of the best things going for both Australian & English cricket. Enjoy it!
Posted by bennie, Thursday, 23 November 2006 3:55:30 PM
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"Someone said 'football is more important than life and death to you' and I said 'Listen, it's more important than that'."

That was Bill Shankly, and he had an excuse since he earned his living from the game. But for an non-sportsman to use sport to pontificate about republicanism, the monarchy and colonialism is simply embarrassing.

>>Ashes’ contests are about a great deal more than the game of cricket<<

Absolute bunk. They are nothing more than games of cricket, and only people with lives sadly lacking in gravitas can consider them otherwise.

The author forgets to explain to us that the entire culture of the "chant" - the manufacture of insulting lyrics, invariably set to well-known tunes, aimed at discomfiting rival fans - has a long history from the English football terraces. Its transition to the cricket arena via the Barmy Army came about via the usual route - beer - and uses exactly the same weapon: the sensitivity of the opposition to a particular taunt. They play on the insecurities and self-image of their targets; the total amount of political input is zero.

And as for:

>>The dubious weather prompted some delightful bi-play between the sets of fans<<

Bi-play, eh? That should increase the TV ratings no end.
Posted by Pericles, Thursday, 23 November 2006 9:03:53 PM
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Cricket - I have nothing against cricket as such but it bores me to tears - I don't get it. No wonder the Barmy Army drink so heavily - to fend off the boredom.

I often wonder if cricket is popular for its own sake or because the establishment that has enormous media clout favour the game. I tend to think that you can popularise anything if you control the media.

I often wish the media moguls were from the flannel-shirt brigade.
Any of you know Max Dumnesny? http://www.maxdumesny.com/guest.asp?Page=17 He is a great, hardcore competitor (my favourite) in a truly Australian sport SPEEDWAY. Quarter mile dirt track, 700 horsepower - lapping in 7 seconds - sideways at over 100 mile an hour - roar of V8 machinery - a true Aussie sport. Love it. And the kids don't act up. Family sport to boot.

Pffft. Cricket ball coming at you fast. Girls and prissy, spoilt boys' game.

Multiculturalism has its good points if we could just get the media to see that there are other sports outside their over-marketed, sportocentric world. .

Before I go I think if on OLO Bible bashing were a sport - David Boaz would be King. If bashing Bible bashers were a sport - Rainer would be a household name. And if bashing bashers of Bible bashers were a sport then they would have a mass participation sport to outdo Muslim bashing.
Posted by ronnie peters, Friday, 24 November 2006 5:25:32 PM
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I think we can give the "barmey army " every thing back that they throw at us . plus they will be leaving in a few months sunburnt to the crisp and with no "ashes " sorry geezers lol
Posted by VTCHRIS, Friday, 24 November 2006 9:49:00 PM
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Cornflower:

"Two thoughts: first, the Queen will be rooting for the English team"

I hope not, in either sense (language of the USA or English as she is spoke everywhere else).

What Cornflower has said really goes to show (I hope) how much Americenglish has made its way into Australian English. Which really goes to show that we have closer ties in many things, including language, to the second 'English speaking empire' than we do to the remnants of the first.

I will have some concerns when we have the Sydney Harbor Bridge and jails rather than gaols.
Posted by Hamlet, Friday, 24 November 2006 10:44:10 PM
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