Ashes 2017: 5 new chants by the Barmy Army

The Barmy Army are a group of very ardent English cricket fans who follow the team on Tour - some of them year round. Interestingly, while they describe themselves as a 'semi-organised group,' they are in fact a registered, limited company.

The Ashes are perhaps unarguably the biggest rivalry in the history of cricket, and definitely the longest - so it perhaps no surprise that fan fervour for the Barmy Army is at its highest.

The group regularly sing - and create chants, and tend to add to their repertoire every year - in what is a novel way of taking digs at their rivals.

Here are some chants the Barmy Army have added to their playlist.

Steve Smith ... is Ringo?

Australian captain Steve Smith came under fire earlier this year in India for what is still constantly referred to jokingly as his notorious 'brain fade' incident. Playing in the second innings of Australia's second Test against India in Bengaluru, Smith was adjudged to be out lbw off an Umesh Yadav delivery.

Seeking advice on whether or not he should take a review, Smith looked back to non-striker Peter Handscomb, who nodded in the direction of support staff in the dugout. That incident was noticed by both Virat Kohli and umpire Nigel Llong, who issued Smith marching orders. The Australian skipper later described it as a "brain fade" and apologised to Kohli.

Although no action was eventually taken by the ICC, the incident earned Smith significant derision, and it appears that the Barmy Army have taken full advantage of that incident.

Set to the tune of The Beatles' With a Little Help from My Friends, the Barmy Army wrote a lengthy chant to Steve Smith.

What should I do

Should I use a review

Can you stand up and signal to me

Tell what you’ve seen

On the replay machine

Am I out am I in

Can you see

Oh and I cheat with a little help from my friends

Oh and I cheat with a little help from my friends

Annie's Song:

English Test captain Joe Root has long been the butt of jokes from some cricketers - among them Australia's David Warner for his youthful looks. Now 26, years after the jokes first began, Root still looks much younger than his age.

While England's James Vince and Mark Stoneman, relative rookies in the team, chipped in with a 125-run partnership, captain Root failed to fire, attempting to flick a delivery of Pat Cummins for four and getting out lbw instead.

That has only perhaps given more ammunition to the Barmy Army, who have come up with a song for Root set to the tune of John Denver's hit Annie's Song:

One night in Kolkata

We met our new hero

Got ruined on Vodka

And a blue marker pen

He made his test debut

On a dust bowl in Nagpur

Our baby faced batsman

It’s Super Joe Root

Mark Stoneman

Surrey batsman Mark Stoneman, at 30, is still considered a relative rookie on the English cricket team. That said, however, Stoneman fired - and well - on Day 1 of the Ashes. With Alastair Cook departing early, Stoneman and James Vince set up a strong 125-run partnership - with Stoneman eventually bowled for 53 by Pat Cummins, who would also go on to scalp skipper Joe Root.

at hasn't stopped English fans from trolling him regardless - and here's the Barmy Army's chant for him, set to the tune of popular cartoon The Flintstones - which conveniently shares part of the player's name:

Stoneman, Rocky Stoneman

He’s England’s choice to bat with Cookie

From the land of Geordies

His favourite food’s a Gregg pasty

Jimmy Anderson

English swing bowler James Anderson is one of the lynchpins of the team's bowling attack, and Ashes - and Test cricket enthusiasts may particularly be looking forward to his battle against David Warner.

Anderson has made light of gentle trolling from Australian fans - and from off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who said he would 'end some English careers' at the Ashes this year.

Anderson's tune is based on an old Cuban song called Guantanamera - that is sometimes erroneously believed to be a Spanish folk song.

Sports fans today, though, may recognise it better as the Viva Ronaldo chant - for which it was adapted by fans of Manchester United in his days playing for the Premier League club.

The Jimmy Anderson version:

Jimmy Anderson, Jimmy Anderson,

When he makes it swing

The Barmy Army sing

for Jimmy Anderson

The 'original' Cristiano Ronaldo version:

Viva Ronaldo,

Viva Ronaldo,

Running down the wing,

Hear United sing,

Viva Ronaldo...

Jerusalem... or England?

You'd be forgiven for thinking this is biblical - it's certainly taken from a popular hymn. It is, after all, the official anthem of the England and Wales cricket board, but that is in its original form.

The hymn itself was a work by English poet William Blake in the early 1800s - and it was set to music only 100 years ago.

The Barmy Army has since rewritten it with lyrics that still sound biblical - and have replaced the 'promised land' with England.

Jerusalem

And did those feet in ancient time

Walk upon England’s mountains green?

And was the holy Lamb of God

On England’s pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine

Shine forth upon those clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here

Among those dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold

Bring me my arrows of desire

Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!

Bring me my chariot of fire

I will not cease from mental fight,

Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand

Till we have built Jerusalem

In England’s green and pleasant land