The Barmy Army’s managing director has hinted that ‘pantomime villain’ Alex Carey should prepare to be taunted throughout the first Ashes Test in Perth, over his involvement in the infamous Jonny Bairstow stumping from the 2023 series.
Carey became public enemy number one in England, earning the ire of everyone from politicians to Piers Morgan, when he threw down the stumps after collecting a bouncer from Cameron Green, anticipating Bairstow would walk down the pitch incorrectly believing the ball to be dead.
Two and a half years on, and despite the Perth section of the Barmy Army reportedly vowing not to boo the Australian wicketkeeper, the famous touring group’s managing director Chris Millard has revealed they will be ‘singing some songs’ from the Optus Stadium stands.
“We have a new pantomime villain in Alex Carey now,” Millard told Wide World of Sports.
“After what happened at Lords, there will be a few England fans singing some songs to get under his skin a little bit.
“Everyone I have spoken to … they have mentioned the Lords incident to me. We need to get under the skin of Alex Carey as best as we can.”
Millard also advised long-term England tormentor Steve Smith to ‘be ready to feel the heat a little bit’, as the 36-year old enters the series needing just 220 runs to overtake Jack Hobbs into second spot in Ashes run-scoring history, behind only Don Bradman.
Responding to the reported promise not to boo, Carey expressed his doubt in the English tourists’ restraint.
“That’s nice of them. I don’t know if that will stand for the whole series,” he said.
“I think Ashes series, growing up watching, you’ve got your heroes, you’ve got your villains – depends which side of the fence you sit on.
“That’s what makes it so special … we’ve got amazing Australian fans supporting us, and you’ve got English fans supporting them, and whatever it looks like in between. It makes for great viewing.”
The five-Test series begins on Friday in Perth.
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