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The nation is ready, the media have been talking about nothing else, and now it is almost time for the speculation to stop, the spectators to take their seats and we all let the players take control. The lucky ones will have the pleasure of spending the day under the hot Queensland sun (there are reports of people paying up to $1500 for a ticket!) in front of the action at the GABBA. For the rest of us we will have to be glued to the TV or the radio, watching or listening to every move in this most complex of games.

The Ashes will begin on November 23rd and the sport-crazy citizens of England and Australia will watch, with a level of excitement rarely seen in sporting terms. As well as the ‘normal’ fans, we will see the ‘Barmy Army’ of hardcore England fans, as well as their Australian equivalent, the ‘Fanatics’. These groups provide almost as much entertainment as the cricket players, with their chants, parodying the opposition players and also their fans.

Here are some examples of the chants these opposing fans might be hurling at each other this summer. (Warning: some of the language is seriously weird):

The Barmy Army

He's fat
He's round
He bounces on the ground
Shane Warne, Shane Warne

The Fanatics

Give him the ball and a metre of grass,
And he'll leave the batsman lying on his arse,
Lee Lee Oh Oh Brett Lee.

Although this apparent shouting at each other may seem a little harsh, it is really a modern part of the spirit of the ‘gentleman’s game’. Fans from both sides get so swept up in the fever of the competition (as well as the fact that they usually drink quite a few beers in the hot Aussie sun!) and the spirit of the game that they are compelled to be vocal. Cricket may be a long game, but there’s no denying that it’s a passionate one.

The players are generally very appreciative of their fans’ dedication and often react on the field with appreciation of the noise and commotion off the field. It’s an amazing sight to see the players interacting with the crowd; each side encouraging the other as the tension builds throughout the game.

Ultimately the game is what we are interested in, and the game (or series of games) is approaching as fast as a Brett Lee bouncer. The press keep telling us this is ‘the most anticipated series in a generation’ – I hope they are right. There have been a few injury scares in the build up this week: the versatile all-rounder Shane Watson for the Aussies; the wily Steve Harmison for the English. Both players will be doing everything within their powers to ensure that they are ready to put on their treasured whites and start Thursday’s match in fine form.

Personally I am about as excited as I could possibly be. I have already reserved my seat in the air-conditioned room in the downstairs of my parents’ beachside house. Saturday will be the first of many days this summer where I will assume the same position and sit for hours in front of the screen. To some people this may seem a little crazy. To me it’s the most natural and thrilling thing this summer.

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