Barmy Army responds to Starc stoking the fire

The Barmy Army has responded to Test spearhead Mitchell Starc’s calls for Australian crowds to “get stuck into” under-siege England allrounder Ben Stokes, with a reminder that crowds won’t be exclusively supporting the home side.

Speaking to Fairfax earlier this week, Starc said he’d "love" for Australian crowds to be vocal should Stokes end up taking the field for the Magellan Ashes, though he wasn’t sure exactly what reaction the England star’s involvement would elicit from fans.

"You can only imagine," the paceman said on the reception he expected would await Stokes in Australia.

"I guess I'd love if he was out here. I'd love for the Australian crowd to get stuck into him the way the Poms (English) get stuck into our blokes over there.

"Regardless of whether he's here or not, I think the atmosphere is going to be great at all the grounds.

"I'm really looking forward to that atmosphere and if Ben is playing I'm sure it's going to be hyped up and really loud. But I'm sure Ben knows how to cope with that sort of stuff if he does play."

When quizzed on what the Australian team would think of the crowd’s antics, the paceman made it clear Australia’s players would have few qualms with crowds trying to put off the England firebrand.

"Why not? Go for it. The Aussie boys will be backing you all the way in," he said.

In response, England’s famous cricketing supporters group, the Barmy Army, uploaded a post to their official Facebook page reminding the Aussie quick of England’s proud tradition of providing outstanding support away from home.

“Mitchell – we’d love it if Ben Stokes was playing too!” the post read.

“Don’t ever forget there will be 30,000 travelling fans getting stuck into your boys too at every test (sic).”

The caption went on to recite a detailed list of famous chants the group has unleashed on Australian players and fans over the years, before signing off with a promise of “looking forward to winning every song contest from the GABBA to the SCG”.

Stokes’ involvement in the Ashes is still in doubt after being arrested outside a nightclub in Bristol last month under suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.

The 26-year-old had been released without charge but remains under investigation by Avon and Somerset police.

The England and Wales Cricket Board subsequently picked him as planned in their Ashes squad and retained him as vice-captain, but said he would not travel with the rest of the players when they leave on October 28.

No final decision on his involvement has been made as yet.

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21