Is the crowd killing cricket?
Cricket....it's a peaceful game of leather on willow...of quiet, sunny afternoons...isn't it?
Maybe not, if people like the Barmy Army are involved. Writing in one of today's newspapers, cricket fan Dominic Lawson says the game's being ruined - by supporters who sing all day, boo the opposition,
He doesn't blame the Barmy Army entirely, but says he knows several people who just won't go to games any more because of "the incessant din" from fans.
So is he right? Is cricket being ruined by the crowd? Or do they create a great atmosphere at the ground? Would rowdy supporters put you off going to a test match? Or is it all part of a big sporting occasion? And is cricket really any worse than any other sport?
That's the phone in with Nicky from 9 - text 85058 (standard geographical charges apply)or email breakfast@bbc.co.uk
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I went to Edgebaston yesterday with my partner; I've never been to a big sporting event before and I had a marvellous time. We were in the stand with the Barmy Army and the Australian fans, the atmosphere was terrific and added to my enjoyment; if anything, it made me more likely to go again, AND I got to watch the full day's cricket with no problem. But then, I'm a woman and I can multi-task.
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I'm sure The Barmy Army have the best intentions. However they (possibly unwittingly) legitimise boorish, anti-social behaviour. They have little regard for those around them. I have witnessed appalling behaviour at cricket. It is very difficult to contact stewards and make a complaint. They have little or no power, and the fear of retribution from the drunken yobs is strong.
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So the debate today is drunken fans being offensive at a sporting match. Plus ca change.
Stop selling alcohol at mtches.
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I was at Edgbaston yesterday taking my children to their first test match. They learnt a lot about our country from watching the Barmy Army. Some of their noise was good humoured and it does create an "atmosphere" but what does it say about our society that we respect loud, foul-mouthed, abusive, intimidating and witless chanting from grown men whose lager bellies spill over from their replica kit. How sad to see the stewards and police moving in to a cricket crowd as the swearing and insults intensified. There was no violence but it is an ugly sight. They won't put me off going to cricket but they are sad product of modern Britain.
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I watched test cricket for about 30 years-mainly at Old Trafford but also in the midlands and Yorkshire. i stopped going in 2005 and will never go again. im sick to death of being surrounded by drunks who from just after lunchtime (once the alcohol starts kicking in) are only interested in creating their own entertainment with endless stupid chants or trying to make some funny comment at any individual (man or woman) walking past them.-this maybe remotely amusing for 10 minutes but for 4 hours its an absolute pain in the backside
at £60 or £70 for a ticket i want to go to enjoy the cricket-not end up in an atmosphere that gets worse and worse as the day goes on. and to go in the alcohol free stand would be penalising people who can enjoy a couple the cricket AND a couple of pints without behaving like idiots (its also dearer in the no alochol stand to watch the game !!!)
with regards to the booing-one point not mentioned,how long is it before booing becomes something worse like obscene-i will guess at 5 years
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it seems that the uk public can only 'enjoy' themselves if they are drowning in booze.
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i do recall the behaviour of the indian cricket fans dureing the 20/20 world cup this summer we played them at lords and the behaviour was disgusting kevin pietersen and paul collingwood could not believe how the players were rounded ly booed by the indian fans when they entred the field and dureing the game especially as many of the indinas were britis born yet there was a real animosity at the game i noticed this behaviour of the football type chanting and behaviour creeping in to the game dureing the summer never before had i witnessed a home nation playing on its own home soil treated in such a way in all my time of going to watch england as i did with the indian cricket fans this summer
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Alcohol is not allowed to be taken in to Edgbaston and the Oval, I am not sure about elsewhere, although Lord's do allow you to take some in. It is not banned to cut out people drinking too much, it is banned so the cricket authorities can make a huge profit on catering. Shut the bars, and there will be no trouble!!
I go to a huge amount of cricket. I have seen the loss of dignity of these drunks, I do not think they are the real Barmy Army, just a load of blokes drinking all day who know some of the Barmy Army songs. The aggression towards fellow watchers is unpleasant. During the 20/20 internationals a few weeks ago I complained about five men standing instead of sitting, because they only had three seats for the five of them, and their standing encroached on my view. The steward told them I had complained, and it was extremely unpleasant sitting by the three guys for three hours knowing I was the reason their mates had been removed. And they were really drunk!!
The stewards never get a grip on the crowd once the drinkers have lost it. It doesn't happen at football or rugby because the games are short, but it does happen outside the grounds in those cases. Every man I was sitting by at the 20/20s was bringing back holders with 4 litres of beer a time - each, every time they went to the bar. I can imagine most hardly watched the matches.
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