England team celebrates with the Sprinkler Dance – from locker room to dance floor

[Nova]

Graham Swann leads the England players on 'The Sprinkler' dance after victory in Melbourne.

By Richard Alleyne and Steven Swinford 6:30PM GMT 29 Dec 2010 Yesterday "The Sprinkler" threatened to sweep the nation's dance floors after the England cricket team performed the jig to a jubilant crowd in the wake of their Ashes victory. Described by the England captain Andrew Strauss as their version of the "Haka", it is already an internet sensation with more than 250,000 people viewing clips of the team performing the routine. Now the rendition on Melbourne Cricket Ground's hallowed turf is set to spawn a dance craze. Thousands of clips of cricket fans emulating their heroes have flooded the web. Jonathan Agnew, the veteran cricket broadcaster, has promised to do the dance if England win the series in the final Test in Sydney next month. The dance, ironically invented around the BBQs of Australia in the 1980s, involves holding an arm out and imitating the jaunty rotation of a garden sprinkler. It was rediscovered by England all-rounder Paul Collingwood and quickly adopted by the team as they prepared for the tournament down under last month, sweeping the dressing room and practice nets. A video diary by off-spinner Graeme Swann highlighted the "craze" and soon the nation was getting in on the act. An appeal by the England and Nottinghamshire player for home-grown versions of the dance resulted in thousands of clips being posted on the web. As well as versions from England's travelling fans, the Barmy Army, there were routines from choirboys, schoolchildren and office workers. It became so popular that when England secured victory, the crowd demanded a rendition and the team duly obliged. The victory dance sparked a night of jubilation for the team and their fans as they celebrated winning the fourth Test by an innings and 157 runs. The victory put England 2-1 up in the series, an unassailable lead as the current holders retain the Ashes even if Australia win the final Test and draw the series. The bars and nightclubs of Melbourne were awash with England fans and players, the latter said to be toasting victory with shots and Champagne. The historic victory – which was greeted with dismay by the Australian public and press – comes too late for the New Year honours list. But some of the team are bound to feature in the Queen's Birthday honours which are decided in a couple of months time. The Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to invite the team to Number 10 for "tea and cakes" when they return from the tour. "It was absolutely fantastic," he said. "I think the guys have really given everyone back at home something to celebrate this Christmas. "With all this weather and everything, you need something to cheer about. "And seeing the sun down there and seeing them perform so well, I think has given everyone a great lift. And well done to all of them. "A really, really deserved victory, and I look forward to welcoming them to Number 10 Downing Street when they get back." Swann's delighted parents said they are "thrilled and proud" after watching their son play a starring role in England’s historic triumph. His mother Mavis said: “I knew they would win. I am delighted. We’ve been up every night since we got back and we have watched the cricket through the night, so I am a wreck, but it was brilliant.” The dance was also welcomed by aficionados.Anton Du Beke, the Strictly Come Dancing contestant, said: "Congratulations to the England cricket team for their fantastic success against the Aussies. "I loved their celebratory Sprinkler Dance and I will probably use their inspired Arm-ography in the next series of Strictly!" Craig Revel Horwood, the Strictly Come Dancing judge who is originally from Australia, said the dance routine emerged in the 1980s. "It's done at weddings and BBQs I loved it so much I put it into Spend Spend Spend the musical. It's part of a series of comic dances that evolved out of drunken stupors. "I first came across it in the 80s in Oz my sister Diane did it at a party she also does the Bricklayer dance with it." However the mood of celebration was in direct contrast to the despondency of the Australian sporting public. The mood was summed up by the headline in the Age in Melbourne: "England dances on Australia's Ashes grave". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8230385/The-Sprinkler-Dance-from-locker-room-to-dance-floor.html

I saw the pic first on Cricinfo and thought it was interesting to see the England team performing a dance routine in celebration. This is the first time I have seen something like that in cricket. Reminds me of the Haka dance of the New Zealand Rugby teams. Watch the Haka here if you have not seen it before: and here: . The Haka routine is supposed to intimidate the opposition and is full of testosterone. Rugby being a contact sport, aggression is in full flow. Imagine two cricket teams lined up like that before the start of the match. Well yeah it's funny to visualize but so out of place coz cricket is not a contact sport and the history and culture is entirely different. From India, I can imagine Bhajji and Sreesanth stealing the limelight. Anyway, here is the video of the England cricket team performing their sprinkler dance. Very short routine but the crowd loved it: tVUCiWDLavY

[Manny_Pacquiao]

should the indian cricket team rehearse this in preparation for their series victory in england this summer? its pathetic how they are treating this like some sort of world cup win...

[Nova]

should the indian cricket team rehearse this in preparation for their series victory in england this summer? its pathetic how they are treating this like some sort of world cup win...

Don't compare the Ashes with our tour of England. :phehehe: . Ashes has a long and rich history which riles up both the nations against each other. I don't think there's anything wrong with the celebrations.. it's just a small routine. The Ashes means a lot to both England and the Aussies. An emphatic victory like this down under is a significant achievement. Careers are made and broken, Punter risks losing his captaincy - such is the impact!

[Serani]

should the indian cricket team rehearse this in preparation for their series victory in england this summer? its pathetic how they are treating this like some sort of world cup win...

Haters gon' hate.

[kabira]

I love the celebration...Big LOL to Aussies... Btw what is sprinkler dance anyways?? whats history behind it.

[vvvslaxman]

Video looks okay. But in picture it looks so gay :cantstop:

[The Outsider]

Can't wait for the series to be drawn at Sydney and the English throw open bus parades for retaining the Ashes in a drawn test series.

[Serani]

Can't wait for the series to be drawn at Sydney and the English throw open bus parades for retaining the Ashes in a drawn test series.

The players might find it hard to motivate themselves now the ashes are in the bag, if we needed an outright victory im sure we would easily achieve it.

[Gunner_Mania]

I would be very surprised if England dont go for the kill at Sydney. Andy Flower to England has been similar to Gary Kirsten building them mentally and not letting them rest on their laurels.

[kabira]

Can't wait for the series to be drawn at Sydney and the English throw open bus parades for retaining the Ashes in a drawn test series.

How on the earth Aussies plan to talk 20 wickets on Sydney patta that will help Spinners...Perhapes Beer is needed :haha::haha::haha:

[Serani]

Maybe Sydney will see the return of Monty.

[The Outsider]

How on the earth Aussies plan to talk 20 wickets on Sydney patta that will help Spinners...Perhapes Beer is needed :haha::haha::haha:

Think they'll serve up a green top like they did against Pakistan last year and hope to win the toss (and field, unlike what they did against Pakistan). SCG has seen some nasty green tops in this domestic season with teams getting bundled out for 70-80 odd at times.

[Serani]

England will greatly look forward to a green top.

[kabira]

They could not handle Melbourne with bit of grass, hwo will they handle green top in sydney LOL.. They need to drop ship Perth pitch on Sydney

[Online]

love it!

[Bradman99]

The players might find it hard to motivate themselves now the ashes are in the bag' date=' if we needed an outright victory im sure we would easily achieve it.[/quote'] If that's the case, then that would indicated that England are not worthy of being one of the best.

[Serani]

If that's the case' date=' then that would indicated that England are not worthy of being one of the best.[/quote'] Thats just my excuse if somehow england lose, in reality we will probably steam roll Aus, before the tour started Sydney was the place I would back England.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

If that's the case' date=' then that would indicated that England are not worthy of being one of the best.[/quote'] :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: lets see the chav respond to this...

[kabira]

Thats just my excuse if somehow england lose' date=' in reality we will probably steam roll Aus, before the tour started Sydney was the place I would back England.[/quote'] well so you are not confident of your team?? There is plenty of motivation to win a series in Australia after long long time and you are already thinking about excuses LOL Dint you say they are toughest bunch... :haha::haha::haha::haha:

[99.94]

I love the celebration...Big LOL to Aussies... Btw what is sprinkler dance anyways?? whats history behind it.

Dance move done by white people who can't dance. See also: the shopping cart and dealing the cards