The hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is set for a seismic shift in atmosphere this festive season, after a controversial decision allocated the stadium's famous Bay 13 section to England's travelling Barmy Army for the Boxing Day Ashes Test.
Aussie Legends Voice Their Disgust
The move has sparked fury among Australian cricket greats and fans alike. The block, one of the most iconic areas in the 100,000-seater ground, is traditionally packed with boisterous home supporters in fancy dress during the Aussie summer. This year, however, it will be a sea of England flags.
Former wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist told Code Sports he found the situation 'un-Australian', albeit said with a degree of tongue-in-cheek. He conceded the English supporters were clever to book early, but could foresee the 'smirk on their faces as they roll in there each day knowing they've kept the locals out'. Gilchrist predicted local fans would be 'disappointed to not be a part of such a historic precinct'.
The Storied History of Bay 13
Bay 13 is steeped in Ashes folklore, having played host to some of the most memorable moments in international cricket. Most notably, it was the backdrop for the iconic video of Australian fast bowler Merv Hughes being mimicked by thousands of fans as he warmed up.
Hughes's former teammate, Damien Fleming, who played 20 Tests for Australia, expressed his vehement disapproval. 'He'd be turning in his grave and isn't even dead,' Fleming stated this week. In a call to arms, he added, 'We need to arm bay 13. We need Merv, we need people to dress up as Merv. I want Merv lookalikes dominating bay 13. I'm sick, that's... I'm sick!'
Ashes Series Kicks Off Amid Squad News
The highly-anticipated Ashes series begins on Friday morning in Perth, with an estimated 40,000 England fans travelling to support their team.
England, led by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, have named a 12-man squad for the first Test. In a boost for the visitors, scans showed fast bowler Mark Wood suffered no lasting damage from a recent hamstring injury, meaning the 35-year-old will be available for selection. Spin bowler Shoaib Bashir has also been included, with the final XI to be confirmed closer to the start of play.
Australia, meanwhile, has selected an experienced squad featuring Usman Khawaja (39), Mitchell Starc (35), and Nathan Lyon (37). Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped for the West Indies tour, has been recalled. However, Andrew McDonald's side will be without both captain Pat Cummins and seamer Josh Hazlewood in Perth due to injury. Legendary batsman Steve Smith will captain the side in Cummins' absence.
