England's Barmy Army taunted stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith as he walked to the crease in the first Ashes Test at Perth. Australia had won the toss and were batting first after England were dismissed for 172, marking a difficult start to the 2025/26 Ashes for England.
When Jofra Archer dismissed debutant Jake Weatherald in the opening over of Australia's reply, the Barmy Army stirred, directing chants at Smith. Smith has long been a target for England's passionate supporters, often performing well against England and earning the nickname of a pantomime villain in some matches.
Smith previously served as permanent Australia captain until his removal following the ball-tampering scandal in March 2018. His tenure ended with an emotional public apology, captured on TV cameras at the time.
Pat Cummins' injury has given Smith a temporary opportunity to captain Australia again. Nevertheless, the Barmy Army remained unforgiving, and Smith's arrival at the crease drew loud chants of "We saw you cry on the tele." The series is likely to continue with similar receptions as the tour progresses.
It's not the first time Smith has faced taunts from England's fans, and more of the same is anticipated throughout the series.
resumo: This report documents the early atmosphere of the Ashes series in Perth, highlighting Steve Smith's reception by the Barmy Army after the initial dismissal of Weatherald and noting Smith's history as a rival figure for England.
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