Despite England's Aggressive Cricket's Downfall, this Barmy Army's Group of Seasoned Tourists Is Unmoved.

Courage, soldier. England's team might be approaching the third Ashes Test now 2-0 down, but some remain among supporters is deterred. There is one collective tailor-made for such a situation, a dedicated unit who consider themselves the ultimate experts in defeat. Is optimism crushed? Are you crushed beneath the weight of crushing defeat? Well then, enlist with the Barmy Army.

Early Arrivals Gather on an Historic Location

Already, their advance guard are moving in on Adelaide, the city where they officially formed 30 years ago. England's best-known – and by headcount noisiest – tourist followers will be dreaming of an triumphant anniversary upset, similar to the one they saw on that mid-90s tour. Furthermore regardless of the result on the pitch, away from the field the celebrations will be extensive and boisterous.

"England's performance been extremely disappointing," one founder concedes, "but we're the lucky ones, because we're on holiday. It's perhaps harder for the people at home."

Even Bazball's nuclear implosion fails to deter this crew of seasoned campaigners. They've been observing England's innings meltdowns since prior to many current players started playing. They've seen more fielding errors than key pacemen have international dismissals. Their collective record as an Ashes touring group reads: played 37, lost 27, won 6. If anyone knows how to endure a whitewash, it's the long-standing fans.

A Ubiquitous Force At the Ground

Certainly, if you're watching, the Barmy Army are seen to be everywhere during this Ashes. Australian cameras at the grounds frequently appear more focused on the Barmies than in their own fans. TV partners often use them as banter-primed lead-in to a day's play. Even the cricketers on the field acknowledge them, as a supporter portraying a king conducting a rendition of a national hymn.

From Backpackers to Establishment

Perhaps that the Barmy Army's combination of longevity and ubiquity has now obscured quite how remarkable their dominance of travelling fandom has been. In the early 1990s a handful travelling fans were united in good-natured humour about failure at England's dismal away record. Today their story is so linked with the men's Test side that their vibrant, "unique" crowd is practically an accepted institution. They've certainly come a great distance since the humble beginnings.

One original still remembers the excited anticipation of the opening day of that pioneering tour. After the hosts making a strong start, he initiated a modest conga in the stands, teasing the home fans with a song about the past. "Local crowds jeered at us, then threw drink containers – the kind of thing that we sometimes receive today," he recalls. "But when we got back our little group of England followers had all participated."

Earning Appreciation From Players

After defeat, England's tour faced further difficulties. Any supporter following the team around the country must have been barmy indeed. By the time the Melbourne and Sydney matches their crowd had swelled to the hundreds. Those on the field, however, truly appreciated their presence at the grounds. When England secured a consolation win, a team captain invited a fan leader up to the team balcony to join in the celebrations. This connection remains.

An Evolving Institution

Additionally, the sheer numbers the Barmy Army can attract are as appealing to the sport as they are to international stadiums. On this tour alone, their travel packages will accommodate thousands of supporters. All kinds of celebrations are scheduled for the 30th anniversary.

This is, in the end, an group born of love for the game and commercial nous. The logic they date themselves to a specific Test is because that was when they started offering branded clothing. The short initial run was so instantly popular – and profitable – that it sparked a thriving business. Over the years, the original members have helped turn a pub-based supporters into an industry-leading tour operator.

Modern Challenges

That brings its own issues, especially at a time when sport is looking to shed some of its rowdy image. The Barmy Army's directors are quick to note that a growing percentage of their clientele are now women. As norms evolve, the chants have had to get cleaner, too. "Language that you'd say 30 years ago you must avoid now, and that's absolutely right," says a representative. "We can't tell someone how to behave within the confines of their seat, but we won't support songs that are derogatory."

{A Changing Demographics?

Might the Barmy Army mellow naturally? The mean age of fans is now nearing the late 40s – mirroring the pioneers, who have been content to step away from the management. One founder is enjoying this tour purely as a supporter – leaving a fresh team to run the Barmy Army's social media. "It's easy to overlook how challenging it used to be to organise with each other," he laughs. "We used to do it all by meeting up – 'everyone's going to the pub!'"

Regarding this Ashes series, the unlikely scenario of a series victory persists, which is typical of their spirit indeed. In the event England are defeated in Adelaide … well, future travels looks nice.