ICC gives green light to name and jersey number in Tests

In a bid to make the players easily identifiable on the field, the sport's governing body has allowed Test-playing nations to have player names and numbers on the back of their shirts.

Virat Kohli jersey number in ODI cricket is 18, which he could now sport on the back of his shirt in Test cricket.

Virat Kohli will soon be seen wearing No. 18 on his white flannels as the ICC has allowed Test-playing nations to have the players sport their names and numbers on their jerseys.

This move is aimed to make the players easily identifiable.

The English county sides as well as the Australian state sides playing the Sheffield Shield are used to wearing whites with names and numbers on the back but this will be an altogether new experience for the Indian team, who will play the second Test of the World Championship against West Indies wearing numbered white shirts.

“Yes, it starts from August 1 for the World Test Championship. It is a part of the wider plan to promote Test cricket,” Claire Furlong, ICC’s GM Manager (Strategic Communications) told PTI on Friday.

It is widely expected that the Indian team in all likelihood will not use two specific jersey numbers in Test cricket -- No. 10 which was used by Sachin Tendulkar in limited overs and possibly No. 7 used by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The Indian team has already unofficially retired jersey No. 10, which Tendulkar wore. In all probability, same will happen with Dhoni’s jersey also.

The decision seemed to have been taken last week as a tweet from former England captain Michael Vaughan on March 19 indicated.

“Delighted to hear Names & Numbers will potentially be on Test playing shirts .. About time .. Add a bit of colour as well .. make the Shirts more inviting for Kids to want to wear .. Test cricket has to become more commercial .. CUE .. A lot of abuse !!!,” Vaughan had tweeted.