During England's triumphant 2010-11 Ashes tour of Australia, off-spinner Graeme Swann introduced "The Sprinkler" — a dance move that became the tour's defining image and drove Australian fans to distraction with its cheerful impertinence. The dance involved putting one arm behind your head and rotating the other arm in a circular motion, mimicking a garden sprinkler watering the lawn. It was, by any objective standard, one of the worst dance moves ever invented. This was precisely what made it so effective.
Swann performed the dance in the dressing room, in post-match celebrations, and — most memorably — on the outfield after England won the series. The sight of England's off-spinner doing an irrigation-themed dance on Australian soil while Australia suffered a 3-1 series defeat was designed to irritate, and it succeeded beyond Swann's wildest dreams. Soon the entire England team was doing the Sprinkler, creating the most coordinated display of bad dancing since the invention of the office Christmas party.
England fans in the stands would do it after every Australian wicket, adding insult to injury as Australia were skittled out in match after match. The Barmy Army — England's travelling supporters — adopted it as their official celebration, performing it with the synchronized enthusiasm of a flash mob and the dancing ability of a group of construction workers who had been told to "improvise."
The dance perfectly captured the carefree spirit of that England team, and Swann's role as team entertainer was central to the squad's chemistry. Australian media tried to use the Sprinkler as motivation — "Remember the Sprinkler" — but it only made things funnier. Every time an Australian newspaper or commentator mentioned it, Swann's mission was accomplished. Swann later added the "air guitar" to his repertoire of victory celebrations, but the Sprinkler remained his masterpiece. It was silly, infectious, and perfectly designed to wind up Australians — three qualities Swann excelled at cultivating.