I love Cricket.
All the more for Australia's return to form.
Too the sheer cheeky Barmy Army makes Cricket better.
We Aussies can not tell why but we love to think we hate the Poms.
We love to beat them, but do we hate them?
True Cricket fans may welcome the mad hatters that add color to our game and chant insults and just sheer good fun.
That is the very Barmy Army sitting out in Perth,s heat day after day praying for? rain the only true chance of not being defeated.

Well sports fans are thin on the ground in OLO.
And those who are probably are watching the game, as I am.
Thought we could do with a break from our usual stuff and this might have been it.
It is my view we can find much of Australian Humor has its roots in such as England,s Barmy Army.
Yes cranky POMS exist but most are just stirring as we do.
However I will admit current Australian position helps keep the grin on my face.

Hmmmm, let's see what The Goodies have to say about cricket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxoMhIGKqB0

While cricketers do pose a lot, at least they are not taking dives all of the time as in that infernal round ball game, remembering Gareth Young, Ashley Bale et al. It is a very long list who should be required to pay subs to Actors Equity.

I don't have the patience for watching cricket any more. I never really did, although I enjoyed playing and the good companionship after.

Balmy Army? No, I don't go for that. Don't like some of the partisan stuff that is developing into yobboism. I like cricket and any credit goes to the players and the team not to attention-seekers posing as supporters.

I've given up on cricket at present. I must have missed it for a while as I turned the radio to the cricket on a recent drive. Ten minutes later I still did not know which team was batting.

The commentators had not told me, I did not recognise the names of the batsmen or the bowlers, or any of the fielders mentioned.

I found the talk of the commentators so inane, I switched to some music. I doubt I'll be back.

Hasbeen I did say we do not do sport very well here in OLO.
And that is about all that can be said.
Although it asks a question GY must ask himself often.
Just how representative are we of average Australians?

don't love cricket, but I watch it. actually prefer baseball.

Good to smash poms though.

with foxtel, so many sports to watch; hardly a dull moment.

I do love a bit of cricket, and I do love the Barmy Army. For years they had nothing to celebrate but celebrated anyway. That's dedication for you. There's a lot of talk a lot of the time about Australia being a sports-mad nation, and the Barmy Army shows that those crazy Poms aren't all that different.

I wish more Australians were happy to smile in the face of defeat. No sooner had our World Cup (yep, soccer) draw been announced than the comments sections on the news.com articles started filling with 'fans' demanding to know why we bother wasting money on a team that is sure to be defeated. They should take a leaf out of the Barmy Army's book and watch, celebrate and enjoy themselves anyway.

Though I suspect from the constant bitterness and negativity there that those comments sections draw on a very selective pool of Australians anyway.

O I share your thoughts here.
Including those about the odd angry Aussie fool, Poms have their share too.
Such folk do not like sport, well do not even understand it.
Barmy Army are just like us stirrers who love a dig.
We could never ever add to world cricket in the way they have.
NOW
Well, yes it hurt to see us down and out for so long.
And if any Barmy Army tourist see,s our thread, well great ball!
That first one in your second innings, the one that bowled your Captain first ball!
Love it even if its me doing the stirring.

Hello there Belly...

I too share your opinion and deference for the game of cricket, and pretty well everything incidental to the sport. Moreover, my absolute favourite matches would have to be against our principal antagonists, the Poms and for the 'revered' Ashes series !

I'm also convinced that any appearance of the 'Balmy Army' does add an immense amount of colour to the overall atmosphere of the game. As well as generating an undercurrent of fierce competitiveness between the two teams, by their good natured, and boisterous behaviour !
After all, aren't the Aussies and the Poms the original adversaries in the game of Test Cricket ?

Furthermore, I still think Cricket as a sport is (perhaps) the final bastion of respectability for gentlemen ? I suppose many might well disagree, when one is constantly witnessing escalating levels of 'sledging' insidiously creeping into the game ?

For me at least, if I could ever have my sporting aspirations repeated, I'd still choose cricket. I honestly believe it's the last sporting bulwark for gentleman ?

Belly, I, like yourself love cricket, have been watching since the 70's Lilly, Thomo, Capellie brothers, tangles the WIndies etc etc.

How good was Warnie, and who could every forget the famous Gatting ball.

I love the barmy army and it is said that just two hundred of them can completely drown out a crowd of many thousands.

Harmless fun.

Besides, it's far less annoying than those things they use in South Africa, in fact, they turned me away from watching that series.

As fir the Aussies, bravo I say, and a huge bravo for Clarke, he is becoming a real hero captain.

Pointing left a huge pair of boots to be filled and I think he's filling them well.

Love my cricket Belly, and footy, and would love to share a beer with you one day watching our beloved games.

Goodonya bloke! me too, we are watching the birth of a great Australian team.
In the past such as Alan Border was our savior and only months ago it was Clark.
We are seeing the impact of Dave Warner now and that his hit it hard way is catching.
Today we may or may not win back the urn but we are watching two good batsmen begin great and long service for England.
enjoy it today I will mate.

LOL...belly, this why so many Australians are so fat:)...instead of going to the game or playing it, the vast amounts of convicts (passports or not;),just sit glued to there sets, with a frequent trips to the ice box for beer, and lets not forget that bucket of chicken etc....Being the 4th fatest nation on the planet, the Barmy Army at least get off their fat arses by getting involed every time a mexican wave or a six is hit, but poor old norm in his chair....well...life be out of it seems to be the home run:)

Oh...and maybe some OLO people might want to peel their fat butts off the chair once in a while and get some exercise yourselfs:)

HO HO HO......

Planet3

PLANET3,

You dare to suggest that living vicariously puts on weight?

I bet you don't put a used KFC dinner box on your head to celebrate either.

General comment
Men's cricket is about dollars. Marketing. Entrepreneurs. Men made into celebrities. Products for sale. The pity is that the same show is constantly replayed, or at least it always seems that way.

The Goodies could have improved cricket if only..

But then for enjoyment of the game as it used to be and for men cannot be the same again, you can't go past the women cricketers,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zWJmEf2i0o

http://www.theage.com.au/comment/womens-cricket-needs-a-place-to-call-home-20131214-2ze77.html

That depressingly boring game of round ball with its theatrical male divas and 'divers' is another sport that is greatly refreshed by women. Not arguing for women, just saying that sport that is primarily about cash$$ loses a lot. Credit where credit is due to the women's games though. I hope they get some sponsorship and time on The Box, but never end up as products like the men's games.

PLANET3 lets face it, we are not mates.
See I get bored with the drug scene and its would be Intelligentsia.
My arms are not as long as yours and I could never pat myself on the back as much as you.
In any case have a great Christmas and hope you get what ever it is that keeps you so self assured ,even if wrong as a present.
Sports fans its hot! the Poms are fighting and within reach of smacking us.
Just love it!

o sung wo!
How did I miss your post?
Great to see you here Mate.

Hello BELLY my Friend...

With Cricket, we are of the same accord ! A brilliant game for spectators and players alike, whether Aussies or Poms, it's all the same, we're all on the same page with Cricket, eh BELLY ! Good to speak with you once more.

Cheers...Sung wu

Well our team sweated and thought of a loss.
England found a new and quite brilliant all rounder and made its first ton but we won!
Not sure channel nine and an ex Australian Captain should have entered the dressing room mid celebrations.
Never a wise thing in almost any sport post such an important will.
Roll on the Boxing day test and Melbourne,
And a merry Christmas to those who make us laugh the Barmy Army

I too sweated out those last two hours.
Defeat for us was a real possibility.
Just imagine the Barmy Army and English press if that took place.
Our tour of England gave warning we had started our climb back.
Yesterday and briefly the day before England warned us.
An emerging great all rounder and too a great bowler in the making showed true grit.
Next two tests will test both sides.

Hi there BELLY...

Imagine for a moment if there was a total absence of the 'Balmy Army' during an Ashes Series held here in OZ ? There'd be little or no colour, a total deficit of those peculiar sounds that we usually associate with the 'Army's' presence.

In fact I'm so used to hearing the 'harsh blare' of their 'cornet' or 'bugle' you hear sporadically during the match ? Any absence would tend to confound me as to what's going on ? It's been suggested the Balmy Army help in creating the atmosphere during a test ? I'd go a little further by suggesting the Balmy Army 'are' the atmosphere !

o sung wu,....while we are all Australians, and bELLIES NO mate policy rather saddens me in a sense, and the real atmosphere thought by most, is by our heart to what we give in any given moment to this country....Belly...Australia is a neutral place of peace.....while war and un-rest sits not well with other countries, I wish you a great merry xmas.

Beach...its the end of the year:).....Feb 1/2/14....

All the best

Planet3

o sungt wo you have hit the nail on the head.
I must agree I am more the front row forward than batsman here but hope it is retaliation not king hit.
My love for the game is forever.

Planet we are bound to not agree, you seem to forget your arrival here and the thoughts you put out.
Many times we clashed, may I tell you why?
From the first I saw you as an abrasive lefty from the so far left you can not be reasoned with.
You claim true light and right for your self but nothing for any one else.
You took to verbal war path by nominating the rudest poster here as the best, you often do that needle while trying to look like you are cuddling.
I refuse to neglect my true thought says such as you are no help in seeking a future balanced community
You fit the Greens style perfectly, trying to say black is white then insulting those who think differently.

Hi there Belly...

You say that you're more the front row forward type, than a batsman. The only comment that I can possibly make - at the speed some of our fast bowlers send the ball down, you'd need to be a front row forward to have any hope of playing it !

What a load of rubbish Belly....for a start you don't even know me, second of all, your profiling is based at best as a online window shopper, third of all, this is a place for opinions and not your own self-righteous king hood as you so often parade yourself around here.

Discussing different points of views is precisely the point of which diversity of community cohesion which is the bonding glue of which all thoughts however big or small has its merits. I'll try to be a little more flexible:)....so what do you disagree with?...is it women's rights?...the environment factors, human impacts on the planet...the right to die policy to be?....old age care?...better education for our children...the disparity between the rich and the poor of Australia......what is it belly?....I have done nothing to you or anyone else for that matter, but simply pointing out a view that we all have the right to say.

You remind me of OUG sometimes.....and remember...we all have a stake on this earth.

Try this vision Belly......THE WORLD AS ONE.

...and what were you saying?

Planet

PS....all you men are forgetting who is running the country!...its not us members here, its not your families, nor your children, nor your wives/loved ones, its all the hard working men do with the needs,if they can get a break....Girls, your being a lot hard on your men as Belly does understands. We will provide in all in that we can do. QLD and in all states for that matter in our no war or I don't know if you can see whats happening else where, says, its just not cricket.

Men world wide....don't stress...

Planet3

PLANET 3 Sorry did not know you are a woman.
Explains a lot.
I would be the first to open the door for you.
Step aside to let you pass.
Defend you.
But nothing changes except this being a woman gives you an alibi nothing can change that.
You may gain from watching some of the very best posters here in OLO.
Your chill it to men world wide confirms my view about you.
You are the problem not me.
Yes you have the right to tell us you do not li9kesport and sweaty men.
But If we spoke face to face I could with body language and words let you know I did not want to converse with you.
In the past you found reason to say some unusual things to me and others.
And to give more weight to your words than others.
A rather think you need to consider your own posts.
It is of little help to your case inferring all the worlds men are wrong and you right ROTFL

Belly,

It is my frank and honest opinion that women's cricket and women's soccer are far closer to the sports' amateur origins. Before they were turned into mere commodities to make profits for entrepreneurs and mainly through selling advertising.

But then again, some of the players of those male games, for example cricket, have always indulged in punting on the match outcomes, so the inevitable links between male sports and gambling (and horse and greyhound racing could be considered to be male sports). Kindly, I did not ink booze to those sports but I could easily have linked booze and drunkenness.

What is offensive though is how often the commentators employ the tribal language and images of gambling and booze to describe play, where common everyday language was available and appropriate.

Fourth test day two, Aussies batting badly.
One side benefit is the Barmy Army is in fact alive.
Silent as little lambs for a day and a half they now scream as we look less than impressive.
Not one of those win or you are a mug fans I love the game.
But our two batsmen should have left their bats in the shed after tea and an hour before.
They only seem to use them to lean on that brings about quick wickets.

Australia 4 nil and one to go, you good thing!
We looked far from a win at times even quietening the Barmy Army if only briefly.
They took the loss well and in full voice as it became apparent they had only an hour to a loss.
If I was to be cheeky I have both the up most regard and respect for that Army but like them like a grin so just for the Barmy Army.
Fee Fi Fo Fum I smell the Blood of an English Mun.
That being their Captain, seemingly doing his job by consensus so much so that mid wicket team talks leaves me wondering what one of the 4 is Captain?

While the thread is slumbering I have a few thoughts about the great game.
Australia stands about to win 5 nil an event seen only three times.
England has shown new talent and a rebuild is not goeing to be far of.
Those who swap insults with the Balmy Army, on both sides who get too rude, are not true fans of the sport.
Winners always drag the *we won fans* out of the darkness.
Beating the Poms is fun but remaining best mates with them, even as a firm Republican makes for even more fun.

G'day (AGAIN) BELLY old friend...

Gee I've tapped the old computer keys this afternoon ? You're so correct my friend, the Balmy Army are similar to us, they love and support their cricket team as we do ours. Beating the Poms is almost a 'right of passage' for us, something we do with regular monotony, and as you say we're the best of mates as we beat them too, well, most of the time I suppose ? Though, Clark's not performing too well eh BELLY ?

Uttered by a staunch monarchist

No he is not my friend but he will get it back.
Warner thrills me and he has 500 runs up for the 5 tests but his style sees a few failures South Africa here we come!