A little part of England
England's famed supporter group of Barmy Army were a constant presence over five days at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong and the group professed themselves satisfied with the result of the first Test as well as the environment in the games.
But they were most impressed by how friendly the Bangladeshi people are.
“Everyone always has time for a hello and always extends their hand to shake. We have had a lot of requests for photographs and the environment in general has been excellent,” said Kev Carling, an England supporter who lives in Newcastle.
The Bangladeshi people are much friendlier when compared to other cricket playing countries, said Carling who has visited Australia, India and Sri Lanka with the England cricket team.
“Bangladesh is a very young country in cricket and they are not winning matches but they are improving. I didn't think that the Test match will go to the fifth day, but the local boys were fantastic,” said Carling who is a welder by profession.
Another middle-aged man, Linz who came from England before the third ODI and arrived in the galleries everyday has come to learn some words in Bengali and he charmed the viewers and hawkers in the gallery.
“Bangladesh's cricket is improving and young players are doing well. But, there is a big problem that the players bear a mentality of offering huge shots and scoring hurriedly, even in the Test matches,” said Linz who has already visited all the Test playing countries with the England team.
“Bangladesh still has lack in applying technique for the Test matches since the batters bat like in one-dayers. Captain Shakib also took a wrong decision electing to field first after winning the toss in the last Test,” he said also criticizing England's captain Alastair Cook for not sending the hosts follow-on in the third day.
“Comparing the other cricket playing countries, I feel much comfortable and familiar here in Bangladesh where the stadium, fans and conditions are very nice to enjoy the cricket,” he added.
Terming the last day of the Test as an interesting one he said, “Bangladesh have improved much in one-dayers over the last seven years since 2003, when I had seen them at the MA Aziz Stadium. But they are yet to improve in Tests and it will take time.”
Sara Dumpleton who came here with her husband Dean Dumpleton said it is the seventh country they visited with the English team after Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, South Africa and West Indies.
“We feel no problem here in Chittagong and we are enjoying the nice breeze from the galleries while the local fans are very friendly when compared to the other countries we have visited,” said Sara who works at her family restaurant in London.
“The stadium is situated at a distant place from the city centre and if there can be arranged a giant screen for watching replays, it would have been nicer,” they observed.
The founder member of Barmy Army and in-charge of the visiting Barmy Army team - Gilo Wellington informed that around 200 supporters of their group arrived in Chittagong and the number may go to five hundred in the next and last Test match in Dhaka.
The sobriquet of Barmy Army was gained in Australia back in 1994 when the media Down Under were regaled with the group of singing, cheering English supporters who had traveled all the way to encourage their team.
Since then, the Barmy Army has grown considerably and their members travel all over the world at their own cost, while at the same time organizing several charity activities to popularize cricket.
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