Coloured Clothing in Cricket Explained — Why Teams Don't Wear White in T20s
Test cricket is played in whites; T20s use coloured kits. Learn why cricket made the switch, what the ICC regulations are for playing kit, and why coloured clothing transformed the game's commercial appeal.
Walk into a cricket ground today and the coloured kits are hard to miss: India in blue, Australia in yellow, England in navy, Pakistan in green. But it was not always this way. For the first 100+ years of cricket, all players wore white — in Tests, one-day matches, and county cricket. The shift to coloured clothing was one of World Series Cricket's lasting legacies and helped transform cricket from a sport watched primarily by traditional fans into a global broadcast product.
World Series Cricket and the origin of coloured kits
In 1977, Australian media mogul Kerry Packer launched World Series Cricket — a breakaway competition featuring the world's best players outside the ICC's control. To make matches more visually distinct and television-friendly, Packer's organisation introduced coloured clothing and a white ball under floodlights. The contrast between team kits made it easier for TV viewers to distinguish players and teams. WSC lasted two years before the ICC and Packer reached a settlement, but coloured clothing was adopted into official cricket thereafter.
Test cricket and the whites tradition
Test cricket retains the tradition of all-white clothing. Players wear cream or white shirts and trousers — the colour of flannel historically used by early cricketers. The red ball is used in most Test cricket (pink in day-night Tests), and the white clothing makes the red ball more visible. The whites tradition is now seen as part of the Test game's unique identity — a deliberate contrast to the colour and spectacle of T20.
ICC regulations on playing kit
In limited-overs cricket, the ICC requires teams to wear kit that distinguishes one side from the other. If two teams have similar colours, one team may be asked to use an alternative away kit. In ICC tournament matches, exact kit specifications are submitted in advance. Players must wear identical kit within the team — visible mismatches (different boot brands, non-matching sleeves) can result in fines under the ICC's Code of Conduct for appearance.
The white ball and coloured clothing
Coloured clothing and the white ball are linked. In day-night limited-overs cricket, a white ball is used because it is more visible under floodlights than a red ball. A white ball against white clothing would be almost invisible — hence the coloured kit is not just aesthetics but a functional requirement. Pink-ball Tests use white clothing but a pink ball, a compromise that preserves the Test whites tradition while enabling floodlit play.
Frequently asked questions
Why do cricket players wear white in Tests?
White clothing is a centuries-old tradition in Test cricket, originally from the flannel whites of early cricket. Test matches use a red ball, which is visible against white. The whites tradition is now a deliberate marker of Test cricket's identity.
When did cricket switch to coloured clothing?
Coloured clothing was introduced by Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket in 1977–78 and was subsequently adopted into official one-day international cricket. Limited-overs cricket has used coloured kits alongside the white ball ever since.
Why is a white ball used in T20 and ODIs?
A white ball is more visible under floodlights than a red ball. Because day-night limited-overs games are played partly under artificial light, the white ball was introduced for visibility. Coloured clothing is then required so players can see the ball against the kit.