Dizzy rascals

By Chris Charles

The Aussies are getting shirty

Jason Gillespie can take one crumb of comfort from his Ashes nightmare - at least he won't have to face the Barmy Army for a while.

The paceman, dropped in favour of Shaun Tait for the fourth Test, has been taunted unmercifully by England fans over the last few weeks.

"Where's your caravan?" is a particular favourite - a reference to Gillespie's scruffy appearance.

'Dizzy' has even been immortalised on a Barmy Army 'Usual Suspects' T-shirt, that also features caricatures of Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist.

"Eleven criminals, one line-up, no coincidence," reads the patter underneath.

Gillespie, who has taken just three wickets in the series at 100 apiece, admitted: "It hasn't been the greatest tour for me.

"I have been copping it down on the fence against England. I've been copping the calls for so long now, I've felt like putting a sign out saying 'The caravan's in for repairs'."

Barmy Army songs

Further proof, if any were needed - the Aussies don't like it up 'em.

Even Warne is starting to get jumpy about the Trent Bridge pitch - after groundsman Steve Birks declared there would be nothing in it for "that spinner of theirs".

"He should worry about getting a good wicket and keeping quiet," retorted Warney.

Calm down, dear - it's only a comment.

It was a different story after England were comprehensively thrashed at Lord's and all the talk in the Aussie camp was of a 5-0 series whitewash.

Since then, the home side have upped the tempo on the pitch and the crowd have done the rest.

England opener Marcus Trescothick, for one, is delighted with the response of the fans.

HOW TO WIND UP AN AUSSIE Ask them which part of New Zealand they're from Sing God Save Your Gracious Queen Ask them what their grandfather did for a living Show them the real Ashes trophy at Lord's Get them to list their contribution to world culture Ask them which pub they work in Tell them Rolf Harris is moving back to Oz Play Cork and Bowled Hit the Aussies/Bowl the Poms

"We get it in the neck every time we go and play over in Australia so it is great to see it over here too," he said.

"The crowds have made the Australians feel very unwelcome and that is great for us."

Paul Burnham, chief organiser of the Barmy Army, agrees. He told BBC Sport: "We're supposed to be the whingeing Poms, but it's the Aussies who are doing all the whingeing.

"They're the ones that started sledging on the pitch, but they get a bit back and they don't like it."

So with Gillespie out of the equation, can the new boy expect a bit of stick?

"Oh yes," said Burnham. "When you've got a name like Tait to work with, rather than Kasprowicz, you've got a much better chance of finding something that rhymes - so Mr Tait can expect a traditional Barmy Army welcome when he walks out on Thursday."

Bet he can't wait.

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