Even Bazball's Collapse, the Barmy Army's Group of Ashes Veterans Remains Unshaken.

Steady, trooper. England's squad might be approaching the third Ashes Test now 2-0 down, however not all in English cricket is disheartened. There is one unit perfectly suited for these circumstances, a unwavering unit who are arguably the supreme experts in defeat. Is optimism crushed? Is the disappointment beneath the pressure of unmet expectation? In that case, join the Barmy Army.

Pioneers Converge on an Formation Site

Already, their first wave are descending upon Adelaide, the city where they first came together 30 years ago. England's best-known – and for their size noisiest – travelling fans will be dreaming of an celebratory against-all-odds victory, reminiscent of the one they celebrated on that mid-90s tour. But no matter the outcome on the pitch, away from the field the parties will be extensive and boisterous.

"The cricket's been incredibly disappointing," a veteran states, "but we're the blessed group, because we're on holiday. It's perhaps harder for the people at home."

Despite a dramatic batting collapse can't shake this group of battle-tested followers. They've been watching England's batting collapse since prior to many current players took the field. They've seen more dropped catches than some bowlers have international dismissals. Their collective record as an Ashes away contingent is: contested many, lost often, won seldom. The people who knows how to survive a series sweep, that would be the founding members.

A Ever-Present Force In Coverage

Certainly, on television, the Barmy Army do seem to be everywhere this series. Host broadcasters at the grounds frequently appear more interested in the Barmies than on their own fans. TV partners frequently use them as entertainment-focused prelude to a day's play. Even the cricketers on the field are heralding them, with someone clad as a royal figure starting a rendition of a patriotic song.

From Travellers to Establishment

One could argue that the Barmy Army's combination of longevity and omnipresence has now overshadowed quite how remarkable their dominance of travelling fandom has been. In the early 1990s a few travelling fans were brought together in good-natured self-deprecation at England's dismal away record. In the present day their legacy is so synonymous with the men's Test side that their colourful, "unconventional" crowd is all but part of the furniture. They've undoubtedly come a long way since the initial chants.

One veteran can picture the excited anticipation of the opening day of that formative tour. With the hosts on top, he led a small conga in the stands, teasing the Australian supporters with a tune about convicts. "The Aussie fans hurled abuse at us, then threw plastic cups – the treatment that we sometimes receive today," he remembers. "Yet when we got back our little group of England followers had all joined in."

Earning Acclaim On the Field

After a loss, England's tour faced further difficulties. Anyone travelling with the team around the country must have been barmy indeed. When it came to the later Tests their numbers had swelled to the hundreds. The players, however, came to value their noise at the grounds. When England secured a face-saving victory, a team captain invited a fan leader up to the victory celebration to join in the revelry. This connection persists.

An Maturing Institution

Additionally, the significant volume the Barmy Army can conjure are as valuable to the English game as they are to international stadiums. At this Ashes alone, their organised trips will host a large number of fans on tour. Numerous celebrations are organised for the significant birthday.

This is, after all, an entity born of cricketing passion and entrepreneurial spirit. The reason they trace their origin to a particular match is because that was when they started producing branded clothing. The short initial run was so quickly sold out – and lucrative – that it sparked a lasting enterprise. Over the years, the co-founders have helped turn a group of mates into an respected sports tourism business.

Modern Challenges

That creates its own complexities, notably at a time when sport is looking to shed some of its lads-lads-lads image. The Barmy Army's directors are eager to highlight that a significant portion of their clientele are now female. As times have changed, the chants have had to get less offensive, too. "Things that were acceptable 30 years ago you must avoid now, and that's as it should be," says a representative. "It's not possible to tell someone how to behave individually, but we won't support songs that are insulting."

{A Quieter Future?

Will the Barmy Army become more sedate? The mean age of fans is now approaching middle age – like the original members, who have been pleased to withdraw from the daily operation. One founder is experiencing this tour purely as a fan – leaving newer staff to manage the Barmy Army's digital presence. "It's easy to overlook how hard it used to be to communicate with each other," he smiles. "Our method was all by word of mouth – 'everyone's going to the pub!'"

Turning to England's plight, the impossible dream of a series victory persists, which is classic Barmy Army indeed. In the event England are defeated in Adelaide … well, future travels looks nice.