THEY planned a sunny Christmas lunch in a park by the river. But in keeping with English luck so far this summer, what they got was hailstones and goosebumps.
More than 2000 members of the Barmy Army resisted Melbourne's miserable weather yesterday to celebrate Christmas at a giant party in Birrarung Marr.
Not even the regular sheets of rain, showers of hail and constant arctic wind could force these tourists back into their hotel rooms.
For Barmy Army chief organiser Paul Burnham, yesterday's weather was sadly ironic, after praying for rain through much of the first three Ashes Tests.
"It's a shame the weather hasn't come and saved us in one of the earlier Test matches," he said. "Instead, the first time we've had weather like this was on Christmas Day when we've got an outdoor party."
As the rain and hail continued to sweep through the party, the boisterous crowd were forced to huddle under giant umbrellas and temporary shelters.
"We made many new, close friends," said one reveller.
Eleven barbecue hotplates and plentiful alcohol kept them going, and after paying $70 for entry and $6 per drink, the army was not going to give up without a song. Singing in the Rain was a popular choice, while The 12 Days of Christmas was altered slightly to become The 12 Days of Monty Panesar.
Perhaps the most optimistic ditty predicted the English would come back from 3-0 behind in the five-Test series to win by four tests to three.
Spectators at today's Test at the MCG will notice a significantly larger Barmy Army than the 1000-strong pack seen at the first three Tests in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Mr Burnham said the Barmy Army would have about 10,000 supporters at this week's Melbourne Test and next week's Sydney Test.
