‘Warner bhai aur crowd ki jodi unmatched hai’ – Fans react to David Warner engaging with the hostile Edgbaston crowd

Throughout the last of his Test matches in England in The Ashes series, David Warner is gaining a lot of new fans, notably the Barmy Army. On day four of the first Ashes Test, the experienced opener took the field on the boundary as the Eric Hollies Stand crowd pelted Australian fielders with shouts, songs and sledges. Warner was not spared from their fury but was standing there bravely facing the crowd.

Warner managed to win the Barmy Army back by gesturing for support from the crowd by jumping the boundary rope while holding his palm to his ear. Then he stood with his hands on his hips, facing the audience and taking in all of their finest jabs.

Named after the late Eric Hollies, a well-known leg-spinner who represented Warwickshire as well as England, the Hollies Stand was created. The fact that the stand is situated near the end where Don Bradman was infamously dismissed by Hollies for a duck while playing in the 1948 Ashes series, where the Australian icon just needed four runs to retire from cricket to achieve a Test average of 100, makes it especially notable. The spectators in the stands are renowned for their fervent and raucous support during cricket Test matches, generating an electrifying environment with vivacious chants, songs, with enthusiastic cheering. 

It’s not the first time a famous cricket player has defied the Barmy Army.  A couple of years back, former Indian captain Virat Kohli made a gesture or two towards the English fans. One of the most notable moments was when, with England in serious difficulties and the crowd quiet, he put his palm to his ear during the fourth Test of the series in 2021. India famously won that match after battling back from getting bowled by England for just 191 during the first innings to secure the victory by 157 runs and grab a 2-1 series lead.

Fans react to David Warner engaging with the hostile Edgbaston crowd: –