A monumental contingent of over 35,000 England cricket fans is making the journey to Australia, forming the largest Barmy Army in history for the upcoming Ashes series.
Unprecedented Numbers for Iconic Rivalry
The Ashes, one of sport's greatest rivalries, kicks off on Friday in Perth, and it will be accompanied by an extraordinary sight and sound. Chris Millard, managing director of the Barmy Army, confirmed that a minimum of 35,000 supporters are travelling from the UK. When expatriate fans are included, the total number of England supporters is expected to surpass 40,000.
This massive turnout shatters the previous record of around 30,000 fans from the 2017-18 tour. The 2021 series was effectively off-limits for travelling UK fans due to Australia's strict pandemic border closures, creating a pent-up demand for this winter's contest.
A New Era of Fan Experience Down Under
In a significant shift from the 2017-18 tour, where a 'divide and rule' policy was employed, Cricket Australia has been proactive in ensuring England fans can sit together. This change is set to create a visibly powerful and vocal block of support in the stands, potentially influencing the atmosphere and even the on-field action.
"The game is nothing without fans, as we've seen previously," Millard stated. "The fact fans are back just adds to the spectacle." He also noted that the first blocks to sell out in every stadium were the designated England areas, highlighting the immense demand.
Ticket Sales Signal Historic Showdown
The anticipation for the series is undeniable. Cricket Australia reported a staggering 311,000 tickets were sold on the first day of release in June. An analysis suggests that one-sixth of these were purchased by fans in the UK.
If this trend continues across the expected one million tickets for the five-Test series, it could mean over 150,000 tickets will be in the hands of England supporters. This travelling party is even set to eclipse the crowd that followed the British & Irish Lions rugby union team in Australia earlier this year, cementing this as the biggest away Ashes tour of all time.
