Army and Navy join forces

By Phil Long Our man with the Barmy Army in Sri Lanka

There were some dark mutterings throughout the Galle Test about the great West Indies ticket rip-off.

But nobody, rich or poor, could have any complaints about the value served up in the first Test in Galle.

One option was to splash out on a five-day ticket for 6,000 rupees (about £37) and enjoy the shade, a plastic seat as well as a glimpse at a TV screen.

Of course, for much of the backpacking fraternity in the Barmy Army, that is still quite a bit of cash so it was onto the grass bank and under the blazing sun for most of us.

The locals tend to know what keeps us lot going!

At just 20 rupees (13p) no one could have any complaints about the prices here as, in between the showers, an intriguing Test match twisted and turned in front of us.

However, once again, the antics on the hill at Galle seem to have attracted more than their fair share of headlines as England salvaged their unlikely draw.

As well as our lot, there was a new all-singing, all-dancing group of fans sailing under the banner of the Wavy Navy.

For some reason, various parts of the press were dizzy with talk of a split among the English supporters on the terraces.

There were only about 12 or so of them on the grass bank but, after copious amounts of beer and more than the odd shot of the local tipple Arrack, they certainly made enough noise for a fleet of fans.

After the cricket each day The Navy moved on to the Sydney Hotel - a local Sri Lankan pub - across the road from the ground.

There they drank more Lion beer and more Arrack while reeling off their favourite "sea-shanties".

It was a great achievement by the majority of the crew to sail through the Test match after so much booze.

Spectators huddle on the turrets

But will their rum ration run dry by the time the Test series docks at Colombo?

With Galle Fort dominating the skyline at one end of the ground it was not long before the real "cheapos" of the Barmy Army stormed up the turret for a free view.

It may take a bit of a scramble to get onto the ramparts but once there it is a fantastic view of the game unfolding below.

I had been sweating it out on the hill for most of the Test.

But in the end the breeze blowing through the flags on the turrets was too much to resist.

It may have been breezy up there but on that final afternoon the 200 or so England fans on the Fort were still working up a sweat cheering the boys towards a draw.

A group of lads from Stockport mistook yet another call for drinks from Gilo and Johnno.

They thought the umpires were offering the light, and therefore salvation, and bursting into a blast of "The Great Escape".

Just as well we did manage to save the Test half an hour later - it was a long, long way down!