England's Barmy Army vows to 'take the urn home' with new Ashes attack songs

British cricket’s infamous Barmy Army is tuning up a fresh batch of provocative chants as 3500 fans prepare to storm Australia for their biggest-ever Ashes tour.

Barmy Army member, Darren Hepburn, is prepared for his trip to Australia for the Ashes. Picture: Paul Stuart

The Barmy Army contingency of 3500 British crickets fans are about to arrive in Australia hungrier than ever to take home the urn.

Cricket-mad Londoner Darren Hepburn will be among the rowdy cohort looking to rouse up the Aussies.

The 52-year-old says he spent months – alongside other Barmy Army members – fine-tuning the lyrics of some provocative new songs to be bellowing out during the five-test series.

“It’s eight years since we’ve been able to watch the Ashes in Australia (due to Covid),” he told this masthead before he heads to Australia this month.

“It’s the biggest Ashes tour in our history and everyone in England is up for it, and I think we’ve going to take the urn home”.

Mr Hepburn isn’t afraid to have a fair dig at the Australian squad, claiming it has “an ageing bowling attack” and is in “disarray”.

Cricket-mad Londoner Darren Hepburn will be among the rowdy Barmy Army. Picture: Paul Stuart

Former captain Steve Smith will be among one of the key targets the Barmy Army have written a song about in a bid to stir up the Aussie fans, and the Barmy Army’s famous chants including ‘Take the Urn home’ will be getting a workout.

The first test begins in Perth on November 21 minus injured captain Pat Cummins, while Marnus Labuschagne is recalled.

Legendary English cricketer Stuart Broad recently described the Ashes team as the worst since 2010 and Mr Hepburn is quick to agree.

England paceman Stuart Broad conducts the Barmy Army during the Ashes test at Adelaide Oval in 2021. Picture: Mark Brake/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

“He’s factually correct. This is the worst Australian team for a long, long time and all I can see is a whitewash for England,” he said.

The Barmy Army’s stronghold includes members aged from three up to 85, and managing director Chris Millard said their trips down under were years in the making.

The cricket-mad group has more than 50 staff fine tuning their travel plans including flights – some chartered – hotel bookings, events and ticketing arrangements and Mr Millard said the sports mad fans are raring to test out their new lyrics in the coming weeks.

The Barmy Army finding its voice at the Gabba on day one of the first Ashes test between Australia and Englandin Brisbane on a previous Ashes tour. Picture: Lachie Millard

“The Ashes for the Barmy Army is like nothing else, the rivalry is intense, the series is so big,” he said.

“The England team is in a great place, we’ve got a great coach, a great captain and we’ve got a lot of confidence around the place.

“The Australian team is with an injured captain and there’s not as much positivity around the Australian side … I think England are quietly confident and I think we’ve got a chance going into this series”.

“We can’t wait to come over and spread the energy and the love of the Barmy Army and pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the Australian economy, but more than anything turn the urn home with us on the way back,” he said.

As for the Barmy Army’s favourite test location down under, Mr Hepburn said it’s Adelaide Oval hands down.

Originally published as England's Barmy Army vows to 'take the urn home' with new Ashes attack songs