Australia A's cricketers have donned shirts with their surname and number on the back in a "soft launch" of the contentious initiative to be used in the Ashes series.
Tradition will be jolted when Australia and England's battle for the urn begins next month, with both countries having agreed to have the appendages added to their white shirts.
New look: Tim Paine wears a numbered shirt representing Australia A in England.Credit:Cricket Australia
The move, announced in March, is part of a promotional plan around the inaugural World Test Championship.
The Ashes marks the beginning of the nine-team national championship and a "new era" according to the ICC.
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Wearing white or cream shirts that are plain on the back has been customary since the first Test was played in 1877.
Names and numbers, which have infiltrated limited-overs cricket at all levels, were adorned by the touring Australia A players for their four-day match against Sussex in Arundel.
Cricket Australia on Monday released an image of Australia A captain Tim Payne walking onto the field wearing his shirt with surname and No.7 emblazoned in dark green.
It is the same shirt he is likely to wear in the Ashes series opener in Birmingham starting on August 1.
The requirement for names and numbers doesn't extend to sweatshirts or vests worn over the shirts.
The ICC has conceded the move was met with reluctance by some pRead More – Source
Australia A's cricketers have donned shirts with their surname and number on the back in a "soft launch" of the contentious initiative to be used in the Ashes series.
Tradition will be jolted when Australia and England's battle for the urn begins next month, with both countries having agreed to have the appendages added to their white shirts.
New look: Tim Paine wears a numbered shirt representing Australia A in England.Credit:Cricket Australia
The move, announced in March, is part of a promotional plan around the inaugural World Test Championship.
The Ashes marks the beginning of the nine-team national championship and a "new era" according to the ICC.
Advertisement
Wearing white or cream shirts that are plain on the back has been customary since the first Test was played in 1877.
Names and numbers, which have infiltrated limited-overs cricket at all levels, were adorned by the touring Australia A players for their four-day match against Sussex in Arundel.
Cricket Australia on Monday released an image of Australia A captain Tim Payne walking onto the field wearing his shirt with surname and No.7 emblazoned in dark green.
It is the same shirt he is likely to wear in the Ashes series opener in Birmingham starting on August 1.
The requirement for names and numbers doesn't extend to sweatshirts or vests worn over the shirts.
The ICC has conceded the move was met with reluctance by some pRead More – Source
