Aussie fans are a credit to their nation

[Paoli]

F1 Chief Bernie Eccleston recently said: "I wouldn't sit in the stands at Silverstone. I'd be scared they'd collapse"

With the utmost respect, I'd be scared to sit in an overcrowded stand at Eden Gardens, and I'd never sit in a stand in Lahore. Let alone using the bathrooms.

There isn't the money to upgrade these stadiums, but please, at least keep the bathrooms clean. Thats the least that can be done.

[Occasional Fan]

Well, Paoli, don't tell Rachael I've done this, but here is a link to the Barmy Army's "Songs of Praise". Enjoy it!

http://www.barmyarmytravel.com/fixt.asp

[imaginarydiva]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

With the utmost respect, I'd be scared to sit in an overcrowded stand at Eden Gardens, and I'd never sit in a stand in Lahore. Let alone using the bathrooms.

There isn't the money to upgrade these stadiums, but please, at least keep the bathrooms clean. Thats the least that can be done.

LOL!I dont think that'll happen w.r.t. Eden Gardens.I mean the cricket fanatics are so immersed that they are immune to any stimuli.BTW,just curious u been to Eden Gardens cuz from what i hear from ppl over here,its an exhilarating experience.

[Zainub]

I love the enthusiam and passion of the Barmy Army fans as well. By the way, was it just me, or did some one else too spotted them singing this at one stage on day 4 in the last test?

Flinstones...meet the Flinstones
They're the modern stone age family,
from the town of Bedrock,
they are the pace right of history...!
That's right! With the family down the street,
through the courtsey of Fred's two feet!
When you're with the Flinstones,
have a yabba-dabba-do time, a dabba-do time,
have a day old time!!!

Paoli, I don't actually come from a non-cricketing back ground, yes, no one in a zillion years from my family has even played club cricket let alone first class cricket, or anything beyond that, but most of family are fervent cricket fans, and when there is cricket going on, there is no way (at least when Pakistan play) that I can let them watch anything else on tv (ok, well, may be only when they're watching their soaps and all..)..but generally I don't think they discourage people following or even taking up sport (my mom actually is as big fan of Imran Khan as you are ever likely to come across, and she was the one who initially told me about cricket and everything, in fact she use to go to stadiums her self when she was my age)..just that they are wary, not that my parents are conservative or anything (I plan to become a journalist so they can't be one) they're probably are protective - which is under standable.

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Anyway, Zainub, I'm sure you'd like to see Australia come back to Pakistan.....And Oh How i'd like to see a repeat of Nas hitting those winning runs when England played Pakistan in virtual pitch black conditions.

I'd love for any team to visit us Paoli, I think England will this year, but I probably even then wouldn't be able to come and watch the match, I expect my self to be very, very busy next summer and after that too. In any case, for the record, I don't have good memories of that twilight match - I thought we batted poorly on day 5, and had we put up a decent total for England after declaring, it could have been a different game, who knows. Moin's captaincy in the match towards the end probably wasn't the most inspirational bit of leadership I will ever see, and in general that is not one the greatest cricket I have seen. I don't like recalling it. That's past now though, and I hope that some day Pakistan too can win a match in similar conditions in England, probably at the Old Trafford, or the Oval, but any where in darkness would do (probaly like the way in which the Windies one the ICC CT final) - that would be my revenge. And it would make me feel really nice.

[Paoli]

Exhillarating? Not the word.....2000-01 i was there on a stopover from a trip to Europe when my dad decided to go to Kolkata to see the match. I saw Australia get beat in a massive turn around.

Exhillarating Stadium

[Paoli]

No Zainub i am not saying families detract their children from liking cricket....Just some would rather children take other career paths. VVS Laxman who ended up as a cricketer had his folks wanting him to become a doctor. You'd know alot more than me I've been in the Sub-continent for a total of 5 days of my life.

Not Freddie Flinstone, but Freddie Flintoff rather.

Flinstones...meet the Flinstones
They're the modern stone age family,
from the town of Bedrock,
they are the pace right of history...!
That's right! With the family down the street,
through the courtsey of Fred's two feet!
When you're with the Flinstones,
have a yabba-dabba-do time, a dabba-do time,
have a day old time!!!

More like...

Flintoff...Freddie Flintoff
He's the greatest man in history
When you're with Fred Flintoff & The Barmy Army Family
We're all, out of England, and we're going to have a big party
By day, Freddie's knocking for six
At night, he'll be with us on the ****
When you're with Freddie Flintoff & The Barmy Army Family

[Zainub]

I get your point. My parents are probably the odd one out, and I'm lucky, and exteremely thankful for that. Almost all my friends are becoming or apire to become for that matter doctors engineers or buisness women - as if there is no third field that existed. I still get a lot of blank faces when I tell people what my plans are. And I know how much pressure there is one young kids here to live up to their parents' hopes, expectations and dreams. I guess society here is just going through the motions, things have improved from what they were before, but still a long way to go I would think.

Shoaib Malik, from amongst our team, had to face opposition from his family for taking up cricket. But he said, in an interview for cricket info, that once they realised he had a genuine chance of making it to the top, they stopped asking him to give cricket up.

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

i like the barmy army and i think they are good for the game. people think they are from the same mould as the football (soccer) hooligans and i dont think that is the case. they are passionate about thewir cricket and follow england around the world, sometimes it must feel like playing in england for the players! minus the rubbish weather!

also the aussy fans are quite good. when they came to india in 2004 there was like some aussy fanatics or something who follow them everywhere. not as big in volume as the barmy army but they were there every day of every test with all their parafinalia etc. etc. mixing in with the locals and having a great time. on commentary they were sasying they are not just huge cricket fans but follow aussy sports in general around the world

Zainub you talked about how hard it is for us teenagers to get to see matches. i agree! sometimes its not about the price beause often in england they make special offers etc. im really the only cricket fan in my family so no-one really wants to go with me. and i am not allowed by myself for obvious reasons. there are no major cricket grounds in liverpool. nearest is old trafford in manchester and that is about 40 mins to an hours drive away. my parents cant just go all the way there to drop me off and then pick me up again or let me make my way back from there!

as a result ive only ever been to two cricket matches so far

[Shaka]

The Barmy Army are totally different from the football fans which follow England abroad. They always come across as a very friendly bunch (and very loud!). There was something like 8000 of them during the WC match against Pakistan in Newlands.

Zainub, I was in Pakistan as a 17 yr old and was planning to go to a test match with my uncle who is an avid fan and not exactly a shrinking violet. Even he turned round on the day and said forget it, there was always trouble and it wasn't worth the headache! So I can sympathise. There are always fantastic crowds for the ODI's though.

I don't have any problems at English grounds though, I've been to nearly all of them. Usually a great day out and I'm sure it's the same in Australia.

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

yes they are totally different to the football fans.... but i think sometimes people think they are like the football fans! even though the barmy army are nothing like them! also they do good for the countries economy because so many come for a series and spend a month there. spending lots of money following their team around the country