The struggle to pun is real © Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

With crowds back in stadiums for the forseeable future, fan art is back on our television screens as well, and nothing quite captures the mood of a moment like a well-placed poster in the stands. From the acerbically funny to the groan-inducingly punny, here are some of the most memorable ones from matches past.

When Stuart Broad refused to walk after shunting a thick edge to slip in the first Test of the 2013 Ashes, it sparked widespread condemnation in Australia, and carried over into the next Ashes series, which took place just three months later. Fans weren't about to let him, or England, forget it in a hurry, as the picture above from the first day of the 2013-14 Brisbane Test shows.

Brisbane's Courier Mail announced a "Broad Ban" campaign, refusing to name Broad in the newspaper or print a picture of him. Broad embraced the role of Ashes villain fully, taking a gleeful five-for on the first day, then walking into the post-match press conference waving a copy of the day's paper.

Good thing it's not a broadsheet © Getty Images

Dale Steyn already has a reputation as a son of a beach but his home crowd seem to think he's a son of the soil too.

Dale Steyn has mastered surf and turf Themba Hadebe / © Associated Press

When Richie Benaud turned out for his final commentary gig on British television - the last Test of the 2005 Ashes at The Oval - fans gave him the most fitting farewell.

The end of a marvellous era Tom Shaw / © Getty Images

What do you call a Pakistan fast bowler known to work magic on the field?

Amir-acle worker © Getty Images

Virat Kohli's exuberant wicket celebrations had Ben Stokes once threaten to delete his Twitter account after fans kept tagging him.

A witty fan interprets Kohli's war cry © Getty Images

Australian spectators were not forgiving of Shane Warne and Mark Waugh's brush with the bookmakers and really got stuck into them during the 1998 Ashes.

The Adelaide crowd attempts to cut into Waugh and Warne's side hustle Graham Chadwick / © Getty Images

Fans at the second ODI between England and Sri Lanka in Brisbane attempt to kill two birds with one stone, miss both.

This poster should have been chucked out © Getty Images

Fans think Quinton de Kock has a certain something.

Bet QdK has never heard this one before © Getty Images

These kids have an opinion about Faf du Plessis use of mint-laced saliva on the ball in the Hobart Test in 2016, and they're not afraid to air it. Has a sick burn ever been delivered with this much glitter?

Start them young: what Aussie kids are doing in craft class © Cricket Australia/Getty Images

These South African fans are really going for the lowest-hanging fruit.

The only thing overshadowing their wit is their ability to spell Marco Longari / © Getty Images

Deepti Unni is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

 

RELATED ARTICLES