Ashes 2nd Test, day one at the Gabba:
Two early wickets have only served to amp up the voltage at an already livewire Gabba, with Aussie fans and the famous Barmy Army creating an electric atmosphere on Day 1 of the second Test.
The atmosphere at the Gabba for the summer’s First Real Test is electric with Aussie fans feeling as much heat in the stands as the English – who haven’t won at the Brisbane fortress since 1986.
Dedicated members lined up for more than two hours before gates opened at 12.30pm, braving the summer heat in matching shirts, costumes, and feeling confident among some brave English fans.
Dana Barram, Kristie Purton, Taryn Young, Loz Barram, Kate Oxlade were among a group of nine dressed in duck shirts to try and manifest some poor English batting.
The shirts proved to be lucky with Ben Duckett out facing his very first ball from Mitchell Starc and Ollie Pope also out for a duck.
Duckett and Pope were waved off by the Aussie fans, while the Barmy Army was left in stunned silence.
“We are super excited for the second Test so we thought we would go to some effort and try and put the mockers on the British with some ducks,” Ms Oxlade said.
“We’ve got a bit of a duck dance.
“Really looking forward to hopefully a five day Test as well.
“Super excited to see what (Travis) Head can do for us.”
Will Colla came up from Victoria for the match with friends Prannoy Josy, Xavier Gercovich and Seth Wallace.
It will be their first Test of the summer with plans to cheer on the Aussies again in Melbourne at the Boxing Day Test.
“It should be a really good experience,” he said.
“I think the Gabba is a good little fortress for Australia, I think it should always host the first game.
“We went to Adelaide last year so thought we’d make the trip to Brisbane this year.”
Mr Colla said the group had bought tickets for all four days so hoped the match would go the journey.
Barmy Army boss Chris Millard said Brisbane held a special place in the heart of English fans.
“It’s incredible to see it now compared to what it was the last time I was here (for the 2017-18 series),” he said.
“There’s a lot to do, there’s a lot going on and one thing that has definitely improved is the beer.
“Brisbane holds a special place for a lot of Brits because there are a lot who have moved to live here and there are a lot who have been here many times to see an Ashes Test as it has traditionally been the first Test of the series.”
To make the English fans more at home, the stadium is offering a British take on the meat pie.
“We know we have a huge number of English supporters travelling to Brisbane, and to make them feel at home we’re serving Cumberland sausage and cottage pie especially for the occasion,” Gabba general venue manager Mark Zundans said.
Peter Carroll travelled 1000km from Blackall for day one in Brisbane.
“This is always going to be the home of the First Test. There is always a massive crowd, everyone loves it, you’ve got a big expat crowd of English people here.
“The Gabba is the home of cricket as far as I’m concerned.”
Mr Carroll said he expected the Aussies to feed off any English hostility from the stands.
“The English crowd is great and they feed into us when we need it.
“We will cohabitate and it will be a great environment.
“I have done many Tests now in my many years and it’s always just fun.”
Adrian Maxwell also backed calls for summer’s First Test to return to the Gabba, predicting England could be all out by the end of day one.
“The weather is great in Brisbane when we have the first Test,” he said.
“Statistics show it.
“When we have it later on in the series it has always been interrupted by rain.
“You’ve got to have the First Test in Brisbane – always.”
Originally published as Ashes 2nd Test, day one at the Gabba:
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