Even England's Aggressive Cricket's Implosion, the Loyal Fan Group's Band of Seasoned Tourists Remains Unshaken.

Take heart, trooper. England's squad might be heading into the next Ashes Test now 2-0 down, yet some remain among supporters is fazed. There is one group tailor-made for such a situation, a dedicated unit who are arguably the supreme experts in defeat. Have your dreams been shattered? Is the disappointment beneath the burden of unmet expectation? Then it's time, enlist with the Barmy Army.

Early Arrivals Gather on an Formation Site

As we speak, their advance guard are gathering in Adelaide, the city where they officially formed 30 years ago. England's best-known – and by headcount most vocal – tourist followers will be dreaming of an anniversary win-against-the-odds, like the one they witnessed on that mid-90s tour. And no matter the outcome on the pitch, off it the celebrations will be extensive and boisterous.

"England's performance been very, very disappointing," a veteran states, "however we're the blessed group, because we're on holiday. It's probably harder for the people at home."

Even Bazball's nuclear implosion can't shake this band of hardened veterans. They've been observing England's batting collapse since before many current players took the field. They've observed more spilled chances than some bowlers have career scalps. Their personal stats as an Ashes away contingent is: a long history with more defeats than victories. If anyone knows how to weather a series sweep, they are the original supporters.

A Ubiquitous Force At the Ground

Certainly, on television, the Barmy Army appear to be all over in this contest. Host broadcasters at the grounds frequently appear keener to feature the Barmies than in their own fans. Broadcasters frequently use them as banter-primed lead-in to a day's play. Remarkably the cricketers on the field acknowledge them, as a supporter portraying a royal figure starting a chorus of a national hymn.

From Backpackers to Institution

Perhaps that the Barmy Army's dual effect of longevity and ubiquity has now obscured quite how stunning their dominance of away support has been. In the early 1990s a small group followers were brought together in wry humour about failure at England's woeful away record. Today their reputation is so synonymous with the men's Test side that their vibrant, "unconventional" crowd is practically part of the furniture. They've certainly come a far since the initial chants.

One original can picture the excited anticipation of the opening day of that formative tour. After the hosts building a solid score, he initiated a small conga in the stands, winding up the home fans with a chant about convicts. "The Aussie fans jeered at us, then threw plastic cups – the kind of thing that we still get today," he recalls. "However when we got back our little group of England followers had all taken part."

Earning Appreciation In the Dressing Room

Following a loss, England's tour faced further difficulties. Those travelling with the team around the country was considered barmy indeed. As the tour reached the bigger venues their crowd had swelled to the hundreds. Those on the field, however, came to value their support at the grounds. When England secured a face-saving victory, a senior player summoned a Barmy Army figure up to the players' area to direct the revelry. That bond remains.

An Maturing Institution

Furthermore, the significant volume the Barmy Army can attract are as valuable to the cricket authorities as they are to overseas venues. On this tour alone, their official tours will bring a large number of supporters. All kinds of celebrations are planned for the three-decade milestone.

This is, ultimately, an organisation born of fan enthusiasm and business acumen. The reason they trace their origin to a specific Test is because that was when they started producing branded clothing. The short initial run was so immediately successful – and financially rewarding – that it sparked a lasting enterprise. From that point, the original members have helped turn a fan community into an respected travel company.

Modern Considerations

That brings its own issues, particularly at a time when sport is attempting to move beyond some of its lads-lads-lads image. The Barmy Army's leadership are keen to point out that a sizable minority of their travelling fans are now women. As norms evolve, the vocals have had to get more family-friendly, too. "Comments that you'd say 30 years ago you must avoid now, and that's absolutely right," says a representative. "It's not possible to tell someone how to behave in their own space, but we will not promote songs that are derogatory."

{A Natural Mellowing?

Might the Barmy Army become more sedate? The demographic is now approaching middle age – mirroring the pioneers, who have been happy to distance themselves from the day-to-day running. One founder is experiencing this tour purely as a supporter – leaving a fresh team to run the Barmy Army's online channels. "It's easy to overlook how hard it used to be to coordinate with each other," he chuckles. "It was all done all by word of mouth – 'everyone's going to the pub!'"

As for this Ashes series, the faint hope of a 3-2 turnaround persists, which is classic Barmy Army indeed. Should England succumb in Adelaide … well, South Africa next Christmas looks nice.