Barmy Army issues blunt warning as fans wait out Ashes rain delays in stadium bars

The ground was still adorned with PVC covers at 10:30pm AEST (1:30pm BST) and an early lunch was called as the stands stood wet and empty.

There were drops at the inside bar beside the undercover Western Terrace too, but that was from the beers — one bar sold $9603 worth of booze in just half an hour.

Other fans played their own impromptu games of cricket in the corners of the stadium.

British cricket fans have been told to ditch the “animosity” against Australia and “support your nation”, after their captain single-handedly kept the country’s Ashes dream alive.

Ben Stokes added 80 runs to the board, helping the hosts end their first innings just 26 runs behind, on a day where vitriol was just as evident on the field as off.

Fearing the forecast of thunderstorms could shorten play and incite further spectator trouble, the Barmy Army’s Adam Canning delivered a blunt warning to fans overnight.

“If the weather is bad it will dampen the mood and the songs and, to be honest, most people will sit in the pub around the corner waiting for play to resume – there must not be any animosity, we are all about proactive support for our team,” he said.

“You come to support your nation.

“It doesn’t need to go beyond that, it should never go beyond that.

“The series is on the line and the Barmy Army should be focusing on putting all its energy into supporting the England team and getting behind them when they need it most as always.”

London’s Daily Telegraph cricket reporter Tim Wigmore acknowledged “the crowd gets rowdier as the game goes on”.

“Especially after copious amounts of booze is consumed, the crowd would love to get stuck into (Australian wicketkeeper) Alex Carey,” said Mr Wignore, referring to Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lords during the second Test.

Former Australian underarm bowler Trevor Chappell agreed “it can all build up towards the end of a Test when alcohol, weather and decisions by the empire fuel tensions”.

“The English cricket crowd is getting more like the football crowd where they get at each other. I hope both sides remain civil,” he said.

Former Australian Test cricket captain Kim Hughes, who was among the crowd at Headingley, insisted there would not be a repeat of the vitriol that settled over Lords, where the Aussies took a 2-0 series lead.

“We put s**t on our mates and they put it back on us,” he said.

“There will be no more agro,” he insisted. “The Bairstow saga is water off a duck’s back – there are more important things to focus on, like Australia winning the game.”

Australian batsman Steve Smith, playing his 100th Test, bore the brunt of taunts on day two, with the Barmy Army mocking his response to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

“Cry on the telly, we saw you cry on the telly,” they jeered.

On field, when Bairstow sent Smith on his way by saying “see ya later, Smudge”, the Aussie turned angrily and challenged him on it.

Australian spin bowler Todd Murphy, 22, was for a second day branded a “virgin” and a “s**t Harry Potter”.

When left-arm fast bowler and teammate Mitchell Starc walked out after tea, he was greeted with chants of “same old Aussies, always cheating”.

At times, the tension spilled into the stands as well.

Shane Hickman, from Perth, said a number of fans in the stands yesterday were throwing food — including grapes and kebabs — at the Australians.

“I copped a kebab right in the back of the neck,” he said.

“They were ejected soon enough by the police.

“Otherwise, it’s been friendly banter all around, it’s been a bucket list dream come true.”

But the mood in Leeds is elevated today despite the rain.

Crowds in fancy dress are waiting to hear when the empire will declare play can resume.

Hordes of fans dressed as Mario Brothers, Smurfs, cavemen, princesses, and traffic cones were attached to self-service beer machines around the stadium.

“We’ll be drinking here for now but if the game doesn’t resume, we’ll hit the pub after… and if there are some Aussies in there, we’ll have a drink with them, why not?” said Eliot Hutton, 24, aka Princess Peach, from Leeds.

“They’re not a bad lot, it’s been friendly banter all the way, the Aussies have taken it well,” he said.

Managers of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club underlined its “zero tolerance” policy to anti-social behaviour ahead of play.

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“We want everybody visiting Headingley to have an incredible time watching first class cricket at our iconic venue – the wellbeing of players, officials and spectators is paramount,” a spokesman said.

“Across all our matches we operate a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-social behaviour, with spectators able to report any incidents they witness inside the ground.

“We have greatly enjoyed hosting fans who have shown their vocal support in the spirit of friendly rivalry over the past two days, and look forward to this continuing across the rest of the Test.”

Originally published as Barmy Army issues blunt warning as fans wait out Ashes rain delays in stadium bars