Shoaib Akhtar, Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee criticize Test jersey with names and numbers

The ICC, in its bid to popularize the traditional format of five-day cricket, have begun a revolutionary idea of the ICC World Test Championship which will see the top 9 Test-playing nations play 70-odd bilateral series in coming two years, where wins, draws and ties will garner them points and the top two ranked teams will get to play in the final at Lord’s in 2021.

Apart from this innovation to keep the Test cricket interesting, the ICC also allowed names and numbers to be printed on the back of the white jersey and this experiment began with the Ashes 2019 between England and Australia and the first Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham saw the players from both sides wearing the new-look jersey. However, some of the former cricketers were not happy with this change and expressed their displeasure.

Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar and Adam Gilchrist want the traditional look for Test back

Traditionally, the Test cricket is played in the white kit with only the logo of the sponsors adorning the sleeves of the shirt. But in recent times, domestic cricket scene in England and Australia saw the First-Class cricket being played with white jersey having the players’ names and numbers on the back. This was the same idea that ICC implemented in Test cricket as well, but it seems it has not gone down well with everyone.

This Friday (August 2), before the start of play on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Lee tweeted: “For what it’s worth I’m strongly against the player’s numbers & names appearing on the back of test cricket shirts! I think it looks ridiculous. @ICC I love the changes you’ve made to cricket in general, but on this occasion, you’ve got it wrong. #tradition #cleanskin #nonames.”

For what it’s worth I’m strongly against the players numbers & names appearing on the back of test cricket shirts!
I think it looks ridiculous. @ICC I love the changes you’ve made to cricket in general, but on this occasion you’ve got it wrong. #tradition #cleanskin #nonames

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) August 2, 2019

Lee was joined by his former teammate and Australia captain Adam Gilchrist, who tweeted, “In fact, I’ll take my apology back. The names and numbers are rubbish. Enjoy the series, everyone.”

In fact, I’ll take my apology back. The names and numbers are rubbish. Enjoy the series everyone. ???????? #Ashes

— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) August 1, 2019

Outstanding. We are underway. Sorry to sound old fashioned but not liking the names and numbers. #Ashes #cmonaussies

— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) August 1, 2019

Joining the Australian duo was Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar, who put in his two cents on the matter saying, “Player’s name & number on the white Test Match kit looks awful. Should not be there. Takes away from the traditional spirit in which the game is played. This decision should be reversed. #TestCricket #Tradition”

Player’s name & number on the white Test Match kit looks awful. Should not be there. Takes away from the traditional spirit in which the game is played. This decision should be reversed. #TestCricket #Tradition

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 4, 2019

It seems that ICC have found themselves in hot water with their tryst of making a traditional form of the game, loved by many, modern. However, names and numbers on the back of Test kits have made it easier for even the casual watcher of the game to recognize the bowler or the batsman and it may actually help garner interest in the game, given that it is changing with times. Though the purists will always want the pure white kit to be back, this may be actually the step in the right direction.