ICC gives green signal for players to sport name and number on Test cricket jerseys

As a move endeavored at making the Test Cricket format more popular, the International Cricket Council has taken a bold and unforeseen decision to allow cricketers to sport their names and jersey numbers on their white flannels in Test Cricket. Just like its shorter-format counterparts, the longest and the most dignified format of the game will finally see a much-awaited change.

The tradition of wearing whites with names and numbers on the back of the jersey is a common practice in English County Cricket, as well as the Australian Sheffield Shield. This addition, however, will be a whole new experience for the Indian Test team, who will play Windies in the second match of the World Test Championship wearing newly numbered and named white jerseys.

The Indian captain Virat Kohli will be seen donning the No. 18 on his white jersey in the said match since the ICC has given the green signal to the newly incorporated rule. The Indian team will, however, keep away from using the two specific jersey numbers in Test cricket- number 10 and number 7- as they have been/will be retired- in honor of Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar in limited overs and former Indian captain-current wicketkeeper MS Dhoni, respectively.

The new jersey code will be implemented from August

“Yes, it starts from August 1 for the World Test Championship. It is a part of the wider plan to promote Test cricket,” Claire Furlong, ICC’s GM Manager (Strategic Communications) affirmed the validity of the decision made by the board-  as quoted by Live Mint. The verdict appears to have been taken last week as an earlier tweet from former England captain Michael Vaughan indicated.

The former England captain took to Twitter, on March 19, and wrote: “Delighted to hear Names & Numbers will potentially be on Test playing shirts .. About time .. Add a bit of colour as well .. make the Shirts more inviting for Kids to want to wear .. Test cricket has to become more commercial .. CUE .. A lot of abuse !!!”

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