The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced new playing and training kits for the England Test Match and One-Day teams.

The one-day kit features the most prominent change of 'look'. A new blue, taken from the Union Flag and called 'union blue', has been combined with red and white to offer a patriotic alternative to the George Cross colours, synonymous with the England Football Team, and the traditional all white of the England Test kit. The Admiral dynamic stripes, an Admiral design signature, give the kit a fashionable, 'retro' sportswear look, whilst utilising the latest in performance fabric technology. The shirt fabric is 100% polyester supertech pique and the cap is made in a breathable Tactel fabric.

This new One-Day International kit will be worn for the first time in the 2002 NatWest Series, and then for the 2003 Cricket World Cup where there will be a slightly changed configuration of the sponsors logos for the duration of the tournament.

The new Test Shirt has benefited from the introduction of micro-knit performance side panels, shaped to mirror the Admiral dynamic stripes, in order to give greater ventilation. Again made from polyester supertech pique, the ECB logos and embroideries are stitched in the new union blue colour. The new shirt will be first worn for the 1st npower Test Match against Sri Lanka in May.

The new training kit, meanwhile, is predominantly white but features the red and union blue from the One-Day kit to ensure a complimentary look to all the kits.

Terry Blake, ECB Commercial Director, said, "The new kit has been developed in conjunction with the England players and we believe that it will give a greater patriotic feel for our national cricket team as well as offering enhanced performance characteristics for the players."

Colin Donaldson, Licensing Director for Admiral, said, "We are delighted with our association with the England Cricket Team and naturally we are very pleased with the look and performance features of this new kit. We wish the England Team every success this coming summer and for the Ashes Series and the World Cup next winter."

The partnership between the ECB and Admiral dates back to May 2000 when their first England kit was developed. England has therefore used the same kits for the last two years and it is anticipated that these new kits will again have a two-year life.

It is now possible to pre-order the new shirts on www.englandcricketstore.com (tel: 0870 162 0204), at £40 for adult sizes and £30 for children's sizes with guaranteed delivery before the start of the new County Championship season on 19 April. Shirts will also be available for sale from 19 April from County Cricket Grounds and most good sports retailers.

© England & Wales Cricket Board