Cricket has become one of the most followed sports in the world right now. The efforts of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to make cricket an engaging sport has played a major role in boosting the popularity of cricket globally. Earlier, there was only one format in this game, where the teams used to don the whites and play for five days to determine a winner.
Before that, the Test matches would last until there is a winner. Thus, the audience had wait for days just to know the winner of one match. However, the board then introduced the one-day cricket format. Earlier, ODI matches comprised 120 overs, with each side getting 60 overs each. But as time passed, that number was brought down to 50.
Also, the white ball replaced the red ball, and the teams wore colorful jerseys in this format. With the evolution of designing, the current jerseys can be called of high-class quality. Still, the retro kits have a special place of their own, and sometimes, the teams brought back their retro looks for a particular series. The reports have emerged stating that the Indian cricket team will wear retro jersey versus Australia in the upcoming ODI series.
Here’s a look at those five instances when the nations sported retro looks recently in cricket.
1.New Zealand’s Teal Kit
New Zealand were scheduled to play a limited overs series against Australia just when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. The Kiwis brought back their teal kit for this tour.
New Zealand's retro kits for the Australia tour 😍 pic.twitter.com/SFZji0aHfI
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 10, 2020
Unfortunately, only one ODI of the series could take place. After that, New Zealand returned home as Australia announced lockdown in their country.
2.Australia’s Golden Helmets
In the same series, Cricket Australia decided to bring back the golden helmets in their kit for the first time in two decades. The Australian batsmen wore golden helmets until 2001.
Gold lids 😍😍😍 #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/JOv7g4shYc
— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) March 10, 2020
However, after that, the board had changed their kit and look. These golden helmets complemented the replica 1999 World Cup jersey of Australia which they donned against New Zealand.
3.Australia’s Green and Gold Kit
The Australian team had hosted the Indian team for an ODI series last year as well. In that series, the home side donned a Green and Gold Kit.
It is pertinent to note that Allan Border’s Australian team had worn this jersey against India back in 1986. And they brought it back to make the series versus India a special one.
4.New Zealand’s retro look for the first ever T20I
Many cricket fans might know that New Zealand and Australia had played the first ever T20 international match. The Aussie scored 214 runs in that match and beat their Trans-Tasman rivals quite comprehensively.
#OnThisDay in 2005, the first ever T20I took place between Australia and New Zealand in Auckland.
— ICC (@ICC) February 17, 2019
Australia won that day with captain Ricky Ponting smashing an unbeaten 98 off just 55 balls. pic.twitter.com/XYVgGwV4np
The Blackcaps had switched back to their retro light brownish kit for this historic match. Both teams did not play that game so seriously as they just tried to enjoy themselves.
5.England turn back the clock in 2019
England made history by winning their first ICC World Cup last year on home soil. They defeated New Zealand in an intense summit clash to seize the trophy.
England go retro! 👌
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) May 21, 2019
Shades of 1992 in 2019 kit! Will they make the final again? pic.twitter.com/b5WoeW5taf
Their retro look had caught everyone’s attention right from Day One. England sported a jersey which was similar to their 1992 World Cup kit.
