No More Plain White T-shirts in ICC

Virat Kohli will soon be wearing No. 18 on his white T-shirt as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has permitted Test-playing nations to have players sport names and numbers on their jerseys. This move has the aim of popularising the longest format of the game. This will be an altogether unique and new experience for the Indian team.

 

The GM Manager of ICC (Strategic Communications), Claire Furlong, said that yes, it starts on August 1st for the World Test Championship. It is part of a wider plan for promoting Test cricket. The Indian team has already unofficially retired jersey No. 10, which is worn by Sachin Tendulkar. In all probability, so will M.S. Dhoni’s No. 7.

 

Test cricketers are reportedly planned to wear numbers on the back of their shirts under latest changes which are proposed for the ICC Test Championship which starts with the Ashes in August.

 

ODI cricket has undergone a change during the 90s when colored kits came into existence and are applicable across the board at the 1992 World Cup. Meanwhile, Test cricket has maintained its tradition of all whites with lunch and tea breaks the norm. Since then, Test cricket has seen various changes such as the introduction of day-night Tests with ball colors changing and also players taking a breather for tea and supper instead. Another change is in the offing it seems beginning with the ICC Test Championship this year.

 

Players domestic first-class cricket competitions in Australia and England are already wearing numbers on their backs, but that is not the norm in other countries. In Australia, the stipulation regarding shirt numbers is that the numbers must be no longer than two digits.

 

Test players have worn plain white or cream clothes ever since the very first match in 1877, while the introduction of cap numbers and series details stitched in below the badge is a newer introduction. Some countries including Australia also have their initials stitched into the sleeve.

 

Many traditionalists of the sport have expressed their resistance and skepticism over the decision, but they have been welcomed by the Travis Head of Australia. He said that it doesn’t bother me in the slightest, and I think if it is helping the fans then it’s a good thing.

 

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/no-more-all-whites-in-test-cricket/articleshow/68516489.cms