‘Siren man’ baffles Big Bash fans as Hurricanes edge Heat

Fans across the country were baffled at noises picked up on BBL microphones with police stepping in before a bizarre TV interview.

"Siren Man" demonstrates the wail during an interview at a Hobart Hurricanes game against the Brisbane Heat.

The Hobart Hurricanes were at panic stations late in their do-or-die clash against the Brisbane Heat on Wednesday afternoon in Launceston, and it was the mood around the ground with commentators and fans alike baffled by a fan now dubbed “siren man”.

TV viewers were irate at the high-pitched whine, with many wondering where the noises were coming from.

Eventually, the fan responsible, only known as Ryan, was tracked down on the broadcast, and gave an interview with Elyse Villani explaining the oddity

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“I do it at games in Tassie, he does it up in Brisbane, people can hear it on TV and we get messages around the place, it’s always fun,” he said, revealing he had been taught the skill by friend Brendan.

“The siren’s starting to wane a bit. I’ve done a few too many!”

Asked by Villani whether it was something he found as a child or as an adult, ‘Siren Man’ explained it was something he learned in his teenage years.

Meet 🚨 Siren Man 🚨 as he gives it one last demonstration to the applause of the crowd #BBL12pic.twitter.com/5gV6wBfzd3

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 25, 2023

Asked to perform an on-air demonstration, he duly obliged to rapturous applause, saying “it’s getting a bit shaky, I’ve done too many today and I’m losing my pitch now.

“The police have warned me now that that’s probably enough for the day.

“The crowd love it, but the organisers don’t, apparently, even though they’re the ones razzing me up!”

Social media was irate at the whine, with one user asking: “Why give attention to idiots like this who annoy an entire stadium?”

Journalist Edward McCarroll said: “I’m watching on TV and he’s still giving me a headache.”

Another said “I’m surprised he hasn’t been decked.”

It was enough to get the Hurricanes over the line, with the Tassie team needing to win to keep their finals hopes alive.

The equation was simple for the Hurricanes heading into the final day of the BBL regular season - a win would put the side into fifth and then they had to hope the Sydney Thunder lost to wooden spooners the Melbourne Stars later in the night.

The Hurricanes might have won in a thriller, but it wasn’t enough to keep their season alive in the end. (Photo by Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)

In remarkable scenes, the Hurricanes defended a paltry 120 at University of Tasmania Stadium after an extraordinary final over.

With 23 balls remaining, the Heat had six wickets in hand needing only 17 runs before collapsing like a house of cards, losing 4/8 from their next 20 deliveries.

The losses of Sam Hain, Jimmy Pierson and Michael Neser left the Heat 10 runs to get off the final over, to be bowled by part-timer Tim David.

With four dots, and a run out, the Heat managed to fall apart and “lose the unlosable”, according to Mark Waugh on commentary.

“The Hurricanes have got out of jail there.”

It was not to be for the men in purple, however, with the Thunder getting up over the Stars in an equally thrilling finish to seal their place in the Big Bash finals.

Apologies to all Hurricanes supporters #BBL12

— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) January 25, 2023

AAP’s Scott Bailey declared it the ‘greatest choke in the history of the BBL”, before backtracking and giving it second place.

“On reflection, greatest regular-season choke.

“Got a bit excited there and forgot the 2018-19 final.”

Journalist and prominent Stars fan Leonardo Puglisi sent “apologies to all Hurricanes supporters” after the Stars’ season ended with the Hurricanes.