Got to be Barmy to be in this army

The Barmy Army, that band of merry men and women that follow the England team around the world, officially came into existence during the Ashes tour of 1994-95. Today, it boasts 30,000 members on its website, of which 10% are paying members. Naturally, a healthy contingent is in the subcontinent to follow the twisting fortunes of their beloved side. Rudraneil Sengupta hung out with them in Nagpur and tells the tale in Mint.

They were the first people at the stadium, milling around the periphery almost an hour before the gates were opened. They stood in line and applauded when the England team bus came in.

The English flag or St George’s Cross, a broad red cross on a white background that has been England’s emblem since the Middle Ages, fluttered from stands across the stadium. There were fans with their bodies painted in that stark colour scheme, and you could see a hint of why it was also the symbol of the Crusades—there is a primal and savage beauty to it that spells war.

But there’s nothing war-like about the fans themselves—they are gentle and friendly, and their cricket-watching ethos is based firmly on humour and encouragement. They take great pains to distinguish themselves from the English football fans, who have a long history of hooliganism.