Brian's banter and beer
The Ashes may be causing anguish for cricket fans Down Under - but there's no contest in the battle of the beers, according to a group of friends flying the flag for the Black Country in Oz.
The Ashes may be causing anguish for cricket fans Down Under - but there's no contest in the battle of the beers, according to a group of friends flying the flag for the Black Country in Oz.
See also: Send us your Ashes views
Taxi driver Brian Hunt is celebrating his 60th birthday on a trip to watch the big cricket contest with his old schoolfriend Dave Meese, Dave's son Richard and brother Jonathan Meese.
And the four men were soon fielding lively banter between fans - and relishing batting off the insults against the English.
Brian, of Sedgley, said: "There's a lot of anti-Pom banter. They really seem to hate us in an almost friendly way.
"They insult our beer and our cricket and there's a lot of stereotypical insults flying about.
"England had a bad first day at the cricket but we're holding our ground in the insults stakes.
"We're flying the Black Country flag - literally. The Meese men have got a big West Bromwich Albion flag which you can see on television coverage of the game.
"It makes us stand out in the crowd - sadly for me because I'm a Wolves fan so no doubt I'll be in for some ribbing later."
Brian, of Sedgley, flew out to Australia to join Dave, of Blakedown, Richard of Stourbridge and Dave of Woodsetton, in Australia - the day after returning from a weekend birthday trip with a coachload of mates to Blackpool and the races at Aintree.
He was given only a few days notice of the cricket trip which had been arranged as a birthday surprise by his wife Pearl.
Brian said the four men could barely contain their fury when they heard sports commentator Derek Pringle critisising the English team as speaker at a sportsmen's dinner in Brisbane.
"Dave was absolutely fuming and was almost asked to leave by the bouncer. We were appalled to hear an Englishman run down the England team.
"We were disgusted when the first ball of the first test match from Harmison was fielded at second slip by Freddie Flintoff.
"We knew then that we were in for a bad day but you always have to hope it will be better tomorrow."
The friends have been tempted to sample the Aussie speciality of ice cold beer in the summer heat and have brushed aside jibes about England's liking for warm beer.
"Richard lived in Australia for 12 months in the past and knows just how to wind the Aussies up so he's been giving us instruction.
"We stand back and admire his technique. If I had a pint of Banks's I'd be in heaven.
"The beer here is so weak and tastes like cold dishwater,"said Brian.
