T20 kits – good, okay and mediocre

I thought of doing a kit analysis of teams in the super eight of the ongoing Twenty 20 World cup in the West Indies. So here goes.


West Indies
They have been stuck with the maroon shade for far too long; ever since colour clothing began in 1977-78.There have been bad prints and even worse colour combinations that the windies have adorned over the years, but this one sported in World T20 is a weird multi cut raglan sleeve accompanied by yellow dotted prints. Those muscular dudes just look odd in that attire. 3/10

Australia
In T20’s Australia had started with its sleeveless shirts worn over a stitched at neck contrast body hugging inner and they have kept that pattern only the shade of yellow and green and occasionally grey keeps changing. The tees are different and the aussies look smart and menacing in those. 7/10

Sri Lanka
The Lankans have an okay dress .Nothing great or even experimental .Its the same that they wore in the last edition .Blue and yellow v-neck and polo collar–mediocre design by Reebok. 6/10

India
Ever since India shifted to darker blue in early 09’, the shade and the dash of orange has given them a very suave look .The raglan cut sleeves have a very smooth curve which blends the tricolour and joins the orange oblique patch at the back of the neck. If we look closer the kit has loads of patches of clima cool and dry fit material on the lowers as well. Nike has put some design sense into the kits and the Indians even though not the most muscular and fit of all, do look the smartest of the lot. 8/10

New Zealand
The kiwis look the best when they are dressed in black and shades of greys to break the colour monotony. Even the blackcaps have opted for the tighter fitting tees. But the introduction of gold to the side panel is just – egg throwing bad design .Even the super cool Shane Bond can’t carry off that dress. Get rid of the gold and the black caps would be fine. 5/10

England
They have got one of the better designs in the competition with their shoulder patches and fluorescent green armpit piece. Adidas who sponsors the kit has wisely kept its logo understated and the deep royal blue with minimal contrast piping is a very impressive kit that is sported by the English. 8/10

Pakistan
Without a regular outfit sponsor, Pakistan dress as a bunch of second class clubbers who just got their numbers printed by the local sports shop and who in turn copied adidas’s 3 stripe design but kept the stripes to 2 as he ran short of material .They are struck with the colour green ,but its sad that they always choose the most murky green .The best they looked was in the 99’ world cup in England where they had sported fading fluorescent green and played the final at Lords. Disappointing and have been so for a really long time. 4/10

South Africa

As Harsha Bhogle put it ‘ they all seem to be wearing a one size fits all tee.’But the jersey looks pale, quite similar to the Proteas performance in the ICC events . 6/10

The trend has been to get the players tighter, fitter, close cut body hugging dresses that shows off some rippling muscles as the T20 is seen to be a more power based version of cricket. Though I would like to see the kit sponsors being bold and tasteful in dress designing .In fact there should be two sets of kits – one for home and other for away matches. Although it’s not required as a differentiating factor as say in football or rugby, but it can be an interesting proposition in terms of merchandise sales.

For far too long we have had shades of blue and green running in the stadiums. Green has Pakistan, South Africa, Australia, even consistently horrendous dressers –Bangladesh .The blues are Sri Lanka, India, England and off late every associate nation.

Some variety would’nt hurt.