George Bailey recalls his incident with James Anderson from Ashes 2013-14

Bailey recalls his incident with Anderson from Ashes 2013-14

The Barmy Army known for their near-religious support for England on overseas tours with songs and chants have always played crucial role in their success. George Bailey remembers chant from his Ashes debut that he still finds difficult to forget. Bailey, standing at short-leg, had continued to tease the England side with that chant, in particular James Anderson.

‘Ooooohhhh, Jimmy Jimmy
Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Anderson… ‘

“I find the Barmy Army songs quite catchy, and they were belting out the Jimmy Anderson song,” Bailey told cricket.com.au. “It just got caught in my head, and I was singing it as he was about to face up.”

Anderson, up against a fired-up Mitchell Johnson, didn’t seem to enjoy it the banter.

“He asked whether I thought the Barmy Army would ever write a song about me. I replied I didn’t think they would, that I really liked the songs they already had in their repertoire, what they brought to the game. I also realised I had a steel-reinforced helmet on, and 40,000 people in the stands, most of whom were going to back me up. So I’ve never felt more confident in a fight,” said Bailey.

Bailey even found backing from his captain Michael Clarke, who was willing to stand up for him.

Johnson had rattled the English batsmen that summer in a way few have. He took 9 wickets in that match with his short but furious spells. England lost the opening game by 381 runs.