Aussie fans have been given back their iconic Bay 13 at the MCG after it was controversially given to the Barmy Arm during the Ashes last december.
Fans were left raging during last summer’s Ashes against England when the most famous seating zone in Australian cricket was declared off limits to home supporters.
Bay 13 was included in an expanded England designated fan zone due to the increased numbers of supporters travelling for the Ashes.
But Cricket Australia have decided to revert the seating area back to the Australian faithful when they take on New Zealand in this year’s Boxing Day test.
Fast bowler Scott Boland said it ‘felt a bit weird’ when he was surrounded by England fans down at Bay 13 during the Ashes.
‘It felt a bit weird going down to Bay 13 last year and having the Barmy Army there,’ he said.
Australian cricket fans were left fuming when Bay 13 was given to England’s Barmy Army at last year’s Ashes
Bay 13 is usually home to Aussie fans and has been considered the best stand for the home fans at the stadium
Scott Boland said it put an extra ‘pep in your step’ when fielding knowing ‘everyone was on your side’
‘Just knowing that everyone is on your side and supporting you gives you an extra pep in your step.
‘You want to do as well as you can on your home ground because you get such support.
‘Everyone knows what Bay 13 is when you go to the cricket.’
Victoria’s very own Merv Hughes told the Herald sun that the decision to give Bay 13 back to the Ausies was a common sense move.
‘When it happened there was a massive uproar wasn’t there?’ he said.
‘It was hard to handle… you couldn’t figure out why… it orobably gave England a bit of a leg up because it’s prime location.’
Hughes also called it the best place to be when fielding at the MCG as an Aussie cricketer,
‘You’d just run down here with your chest out because you knew even before you did anything, you were going to get a cheer.
‘You get great support everywhere you go, but being a Victorian in the Australian team here at the MCG is fantastic.
‘It’s like a different demographic, there’s ferals down in Bay 13.
‘For as long as I can remember, even Dennis Lillee when he bowled from the southern end and he was in front of Bay 13, the stands were always rocking.’
Cricket Australia said: ‘We recognised this was not received well by the Australian public and we have reverted to longstanding arrangements this season.’
Cricket Australia said: ‘We recognised this was not received well by the Australian public and we have reverted to longstanding arrangements this season.’
Aussie fans will have the chance to show New Zealand exactly what Boland means when they travel to the MCG on Boxing Day.
