Ashes trumpeter Billy's ban evokes strong reactions

England star batsman Kevin Pietersen took to Twitter on Saturday to say the move was a "DISGRACE".

Billy Cooper. PIC/Getty Images

Billy Cooper, has become a fixture with the ‘Barmy Army' group of supporters who follow England home and away, with his well-judged interludes - a few bars of the ‘Great Escape' when the team is fighting a rearguard action for example - becoming popular with spectators.

But Cooper took to Twitter on Friday to say he wouldn't be performing, as things stood, when the first Test started at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.u00a0"Just to clarify that @TrentBridge have said I can't play at the 1st test. Disappointed. Gutted," Cooper wrote as @billbarmytrump.

England spinner Graeme Swann, followed by wicketkeeper Matt Prior both backed Cooper's cause with a retweet saying: "We just want to get behind @Swannyg66 @MattPrior13 @JimmyAnderson9 & the boys #LetBillyBlowhisTrumpet" we want him."u00a0