Bring on the Barmy Army! England fan group hoping to head Down Under in droves for the Ashes… with 15,000 on a waiting list for travel packages
- The ECB have given conditional approval for the Ashes to go ahead in Australia
- Touring group ‘Barmy Army’ are hopeful they can travel out to the final tests
- There are more than 15,000 fans on a waiting list for Ashes travel packages
The Barmy Army hope to have significant presence at the fourth and fifth Tests in January after the ECB gave their conditional approval for the Ashes to go ahead.
The overseas touring group, formed as a result of the mockery they received in the Australian media on the 1994-95 trip, have over 15,000 England supporters on the waiting list for travel packages this winter, although far fewer are expected to head Down Under due to the uncertainty surrounding travel restrictions.
The Australian government are planning to reopen their borders for international travel next month on a state-by-state basis depending on vaccination levels, although foreigners are unlikely to be admitted until next year.
England’s Barmy Army group are hoping to head out to Australia to support at the Ashes
Australia are set to reopen their borders for travellers next month on a state-by-state basis
The fourth Test is due to begin at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5 however, leading to hopes that England fans will be able to travel, particularly as New South Wales has the highest vaccination rate in the country.
While the fifth Test is scheduled to take place in Perth that could also be moved to Sydney, as the vaccine programme in West Australia is lagging behind other states.
England will take a full-strength squad to the Ashes – including Jos Buttler – after senior players finally committed to next month’s trip.
Barring any last-minute changes of heart, it means Joe Root will be able to call upon all his fit players for the 11-week trip.
An ECB board meeting was held at Lord’s to ratify the five-match series following months of doubt over availability due to uncertainty over the Covid conditions in which the players and their families would be asked to abide in Australia.
Jos Buttler is among the senior stars to have committed to the Ashes tour next month