Ever since its inception in 1877, Test cricket has undergone a lot of changes but the longest format maintained its tradition of players sporting white jersey with lunch and tea breaks being the other norm. But it seems that the traditional format is all set to witness another change, starting with the ICC Test Championship this year.
As per a report in cricket.com.au, Test cricketers will now have numbers on the back of their shirts under changes proposed for the ICC Test Championship which begins with the Ashes in August. Report also claims that Cricket Australia’s operations department is in the planning phase to manufacture numbered Test shirts for the Ashes 2019.
It is worth mentioning here that players in Australia and England’s domestic first-class cricket already wear numbers on their backs, but that is not the norm in other countries.
While many purists have expressed their resistance over the same, Australia batsman Travis Head has endorsed the move.
“It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, and I think if it helps the fans then that’s a good thing,” Head told cricket.com.au. “That’s why they brought it into Shield cricket, so that people could identify players they probably don’t see all that often, especially now with games being live-streamed.”
“Obviously, the detail in the television coverage these days is pretty good, so I guess this is aimed more at people who are at the ground.”
Head believes this move is purely a cosmetic one, unlike the introduction of day-night Test with pink ball.
“It’s not like the introduction of the pink ball for Test cricket, it’s one of those innovations that won’t have a huge impact on the game itself,” Head said. “But if it means kids can identify their favourite player a bit more easily at the ground, then I’m all for it.”
The southpaw also feels numbers on shirts would be far more significant than the personal Test cap numbers.
“I’m not for putting special significance in numbers, but I know some guys are. I know that my Test and one-day cap numbers, and my SACA number, they obviously have a bit more personal significance. But I can’t see anything negative about a decision like this, it’s all to help out the viewers,” Head concluded.
