'Billy the Trumpet' banned from playing at Trent Bridge

A musician belonging to the 'Barmy Army' group of supporters, who follow England cricket home and away, has been effectively banned from playing at Trent Bridge, in a move that attracted displeasure from English cricketers on Twitter.

According to sport24, Billy Cooper, popularly known as 'Billy the Trumpet' took to Twitter on Friday to confirm that he would not be performing, as things stood, when the first Test at Trent Bridge would start on Wednesday.

The report said that the musician was very popular with spectators and that Kevin Pieterson had called the move a disgrace, on his Twitter account.

England spinner Graeme Swann and wicketkeeper Matt Prior also backed Cooper's cause with re-tweets, the report added.

However, a Nottinghamshire spokesman said that it was a long-standing policy position and that there was no change of mind although he had nothing personal against Cooper or his trumpet.