The Barmy Army’s songs are not always music to Australian ears. But like in all fields of life, here also there are exceptions.

Recently, the Barmy Army, the England cricket team’s travelling army of fans, paid a tribute to Australia captain Pat Cummins’ unwell mother, Maria. Cummins flew back home from India after the conclusion of the second Test in Delhi to be by the side of his ailing mother, who is in palliative care.

During England’s Test against New Zealand in Wellington, Barmy Army shared a video of their trumpet player playing “Maria” from West Side Story as a tribute to Cummins’ mother.

That gesture has moved former Australia captain Ricky Ponting. “I mean, that’s fantastic,” Ponting said in the latest episode of The ICC Review.

“I’ve said this for forever, I was lucky to play a lot of Ashes cricket and lucky to witness a lot of really good, lighthearted banter from the Barmy Army. I think they are the best group of sporting fans that I’ve ever seen.

“They travelled the world supporting their team and are up and about from the first ball of the Test match to the end, whether their team’s going well or not. So that was a fantastic gesture from everyone concerned and involved with the Barmy Army. It was awesome.”

Expressing his appreciation for how closely knit the global cricket family is, Ponting said. “I think we’ve seen just how small and how tight the cricket world can be. I’m sure that he (Cummins) would’ve received a lot of well-wishes from all parts of the world, the cricket-loving fraternity, that would’ve sent some messages of support to him and the rest of his family in obviously what is a really difficult time for them.”