Ever since the first encounter between Australia and England took place in Melbourne in 1877, the test matches have always been played in plain whites or creams. But the 142 years of tradition is set to break during this summer’s Ashes. Players would be seen wearing shirts bearing the names and the numbers on the back. Although the proposal from the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia is yet to be signed off by the ICC board. However it seems likely that the Edgbaston Test, will be the first to feature the change starting on August 1.
The ICC is keen to market and promote the longest format of the game, via its new Test Championship. A recent survey by MCC showed that 86% of the 13000 respondents considered Test cricket their favourite format. The players would be more easily identifiable on the field of play with the introduction of names and numbers on the whites.
The players are expected to be able to choose their squad numbers from 1 to 99 and as a result the shirt market would also be boosted. The format of test cricket had only one minor change when England brought in a small embroidered cap number below the crest in 2001, to denote the ‘where a player sits in his country’s history’.
