Photoshoot: On tour with the Barmies

Going on tour with the Barmy Army is really hard work. First, there is the problem of downing enough of the local beer to get in exactly the right kind of mood (see below, at fifth Test in St John's, Antigua).

Then, as at the sixth Test in Bridgetown, Barbados (below left), there is all that noise and teasing from locals who seem convinced that their cricketers make England's look like a bunch of hopeless has-beens. Then there is having to dress up, but the idea that the sight of Laa-Laa and friends might somehow disturb the mighty Lara proved mistaken. At least Tinky Winky got to celebrate Mark Ramprakash's Man of the Match award. And then there's having to take your shirt off in all that sun.

Copies of these photographs - and any others by The Independent's sports photographers David Ashdown, Peter Jay and Robert Hallam - can be ordered by telephoning 0171 293 2534.