Australian cricket legends and supporters have been left bristling at a decision to hand England’s travelling fan base, the Barmy Army, control of the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s most unruly patch of real estate for the Boxing Day Ashes Test.
Bay 13, one of the most famous sections of the 100,000-seat arena, has been earmarked for English fans this year, with thousands expected to descend on the MCG.
Known for its rowdy costumes, chants and irreverent antics, the bay has long been regarded as the heart of Australian summer cricket culture, a place where generations of supporters have created folklore.
The allocation to England supporters has taken many by surprise, including former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who said that the move felt “un-Australian”.
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Speaking to Code Sports, he said: “Good on them [the Barmy Army] for getting in early enough to book it, I guess.
“It’s going to create a good, fun atmosphere … I can see the smirk on their faces as they roll in there each day knowing they’ve kept the locals out.”
Gilchrist warned that home fans may feel a pang of disappointment at being sidelined from what he called a “historic precinct of the ground”.
Adam Gilchrist is an Australian cricket legend
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Bay 13 has served as the backdrop for some of cricket’s most memorable crowd interactions, among them the famous footage of Merv Hughes stretching at fine leg while thousands mimicked his warm-up routine in unison.
Former seamer Damien Fleming also weighed in with tongue-in-cheek outrage at the English takeover.
“He’d be turning in his grave and isn’t even dead,” Fleming said of Hughes, before calling on Australian supporters to reclaim the bay by dressing as the cult hero.
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“I want Merv lookalikes dominating Bay 13 … I’m sick, that’s… I’m sick!”
The Ashes series begins on Friday in Perth, with organisers expecting around 40,000 English fans to make the trip to Australia.
On the eve of the opener, England named a 12-man squad featuring fast bowler Mark Wood, who has been declared fit after a hamstring scare last week.
Spinner Shoaib Bashir has also been included, although a final XI is unlikely to be announced until closer to first ball.
Australia are yet to confirm their team, but selectors have opted for experience, calling up a number of seasoned names including Usman Khawaja, 39, Mitchell Starc, 35, and Nathan Lyon, 37.
Marnus Labuschagne, omitted from the recent tour of the West Indies, has also been included.
The Barmy Army will be cheering on England as they look to win The Ashes
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The side will be without injured captain Pat Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood for the Perth Test, meaning Steve Smith will lead the team.
With the rivalry set to intensify on the field, the battle in the stands may be just as fierce.
Bay 13, once shorthand for Australian mischief, will now echo with English chants - unless local fans conjure an answer.
The Barmy Army may have secured the seats, but the contest for the atmosphere is only getting started.