England kit controversy

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Aggers on BBC Website

Meanwhile England's new glaring white kit was revealed in all its awfulness today.

Cricket is a traditional sport, and cricketers collect and proudly treasure their sweaters and caps. My England sweaters, cable-knitted and off white, are among my most prized possessions.

I can't believe that these dazzling sweatshirt tops feel the least bit special or create anything like the same emotion. Use them in one day cricket if you must, but please can we keep Test cricket special?

For the full story see ee ECB leg before on flannels deal - Cricket, Sport - The Independent

[greg]

I needed my shades on in the house just to watch it.

I think Dulux are our new sponsors with their Brilliant White paint.

[Aurelius]

As a commentator (Lloyd?) said yesterday, the players need to be kept warm in the early English summer, and these new threads don't look like they'd do that nearly as well as the traditional sweater. In fact, it could have a negative effect, as in order to keep warm they'll have to keep more active, which will cause them to tire more quickly.

Okay, so the last part may not make that much of a difference, but they're godawful anyhow.

If enough of a stink is raised, then hopefully the traditional sweater will return when the current contract expires. I hope so, anyway, becuase the sweater is English cricket.

[Occasional Fan]

Difficult to see from the web photos what all the fuss is about. However, I'm a traditionalist and I'll spot the problem, if there is one, when I am at the Trent Bridge test. Then I'll be more than happy to join in the raising of the stink.

[Notts Exile]

They are white and not off-white or cream. It just doesn't look right!

[pie_chucker]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

As a commentator (Lloyd?) said yesterday, the players need to be kept warm in the early English summer, and these new threads don't look like they'd do that nearly as well as the traditional sweater..

These fleece style tops keep you remarkably warm. I bought one a couple of years ago and would never wear a traditional jumper again. Although my fleece is off white

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

They are white and not off-white or cream. It just doesn't look right!

They are far too white! I know they are called "whites" but to me they should be off-white. They just look "wrong".

[acker]

I'm surprised they are not wearing lycra anti chaffe "skins" bike style type garments that have taken off in popularity with various sports including cricket here in the Southern Hemisphere.

Brett Lee & Andrew Symonds are sponsored by them.

[Occasional Fan]

It's all been going downhill ever since top hats and waistcoats were dispensed with.

[south beds mikey]

Clearly I'm a bit of a heretic but I think they look quite smart. As we all know however regardless of clothing the winning side always looks the best at the edn of the game!!

[Scott-Wozniak]

Well I've seen their new kit, made presumably by the sponsors Adidas. Like all things there are two sides to it.

Their argument (the players) is that they want high performance clothing. They want high performance synthetics that keep you warm with a minimum of bulkiness and layers and keep you cool in warmer weather. They do have a point, traditional Cricket wear isn't the most practical even if it is the most conventional looking.

On the other hand as many others have pointed out - it just doesn't 'look as nice' as conventional Cricket wear.

Personally I couldn't care less what they wear, I'm much more interested in 'what' they do rather than 'what' they wear. It's the 'red piping' of their new kit that irritates me the most, there's no need for it.

Another thing I've always found particularly curious is where the 'blue' comes from in their clothes. It's the ECB - England and Wales Cricket Board, Englands colours are red and white, Wales' colours are red and green, the blue in the Union Jack comes from the cross of St Andrew - which is Scotlands colour.

So why are the England Cricketers using Scotlands blue in their kit when Scotland is independant as a Cricketing nation?