The notoriously rowdy Barmy Army has pledged a dramatic shift in behaviour ahead of the first Ashes Test in Perth, promising to abandon the nasty abuse that has characterised previous tours in favour of good-natured fun.
A New Code of Conduct
Perth Barmy Army coordinator Alison Foskett has put members on strict notice, declaring that anyone hurling abuse at Australian players will be immediately turfed out of the famous England cheer squad. Nearly 6000 supporters are expected to pack the stands at Optus Stadium for the series opener on Friday, creating a sea of red and white.
"There's no abuse, it's banter," Ms Foskett told The West Australian. "It's in very light-hearted spirits... if anybody does engage in that kind of behaviour then they'll be turfed out of the army."
Leaving the Past Behind
This new approach marks a significant departure from previous Ashes campaigns where the Barmy Army's chants became as infamous as the on-field action. During the 2017-18 series, they mercilessly taunted Steve Smith with a reworked Beatles song questioning his decision-making. In 2019, they cruelly referenced Smith's emotional press conference following the Sandpapergate scandal with the chant "we saw you cry on the telly".
More recently, tensions flared during the 2023 Ashes when England accused Australia of breaching the "spirit of the game" after Alex Carey's controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow. However, Ms Foskett stressed those days are over, confirming the Barmy Army "absolutely won't" boo Carey or create targeted chants about him.
Major Presence Assured
Despite the softened stance, the English will remain highly visible and vocal throughout the Perth Test. The contingent comprises approximately 5000 fans travelling from the UK joined by around 1000 local supporters. They will occupy the bottom tier on the east side of Optus Stadium, with an additional England fan zone established opposite.
"We will be from head to toe dressed in red and white, we have lots of flags with us that will definitely be very noticeable in the crowd and we will also be very noisy," Ms Foskett said. The emphasis, however, will remain on supporting England rather than targeting the opposition, ensuring the competitive spirit of the Ashes is preserved without crossing into abuse.
