Cricket
Cricket kit rules: the ICC clothing regulations
The ICC sets what international teams wear: plain whites for Tests and colours that do not hide the white ball for ODIs and T20Is. Club cricket follows its own board or league.
- Governing body
- ICC
- Document
- Clothing and Equipment Regulations
- Edition
- Effective May 2023
- Applies to
- International cricket
- Last checked
- 6 October 2026
About the source
The short answer
The ICC clothing regulations require plain white or cream playing shirts and trousers in Test matches, with limited piping. In ODIs and T20Is, shirts must be coloured, not white, cream or any light colour that makes the white ball hard to see. Names and numbers must be sewn on or heat transferred. These rules cover international cricket.
Rules change: always check your own league's current rules.
This page summarises the governing document named in each row, in our own words. It is not the official text and it is not legal advice. Leagues, unions, boards and school associations can add to or change these rules, and they publish new editions.
Rules table
The rules, row by row
Each row has the clause, the edition and a link to the source. Last checked .
Test matches
The ICC document applies to international cricket. Rows below come from its Test match sections.
| Rule | What it says | Who sets it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test shirts | Playing shirts are plain white or cream. Coloured piping or trim is allowed in one colour only, up to 0.5 cm wide, and only on the collar edge, seams and cuffs. The inside of the placket may be a plain colour other than white. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsTest matches: playing shirt Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
| Test trousers | Trousers are plain white or cream. Any piping is up to 0.5 cm wide, sits only on pocket edges and the outside leg seam, and is the same colour as any piping on the shirt. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsTest matches: playing trousers Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
| Test socks | Socks are white, cream or light grey. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsOther clothing: socks Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
| Caps and sunhats | Caps and sunhats must be the same colour for every member of the team, although a white sunhat may be worn as an alternative. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsTest matches: cap and sun hat Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
ODIs and T20 internationals
Coloured kit is allowed in the limited-overs formats, with one condition.
| Rule | What it says | Who sets it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirt colour | Playing sweaters (shirts) must be coloured other than white, cream or any light colour likely to make the white ball hard to sight. The ICC's senior cricket operations manager has the final say. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsODI and T20I: playing sweater Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
| Same kit for the whole team | The colours and design of the playing shirts, including logos, must be uniform across all members of the same team. This applies in every format. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsPlaying shirt sections Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
| Limited-overs socks | Socks are white, cream or light grey, or the same as the base colour of the playing trousers. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsOther clothing: socks Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
Names, numbers and logos (international shirts)
These rows apply to the shirts worn in international matches.
| Rule | What it says | Who sets it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| How names and numbers are fixed | Numbers must be sewn on or fixed by heat transfer. Velcro or any temporary fixing is not allowed. Names and numbers must correctly reflect the identity of the player and contain no advertising elements. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsName, number and initials Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
| Where they go | The number is centred on the back and clearly legible. In Tests the name sits above the number. In ODIs and T20Is it may sit above or below the number. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsName, number and initials Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
| Test number range | In Test matches the permitted numbers are 1 to 99. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsTest matches: playing shirt Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
| Sizes on the shirt | The back number is between 25 cm and 35 cm high. Name lettering is between 6 cm and 7.5 cm high. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsAppendix 1 diagrams Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
| Logo limits | Appendix 1 sets how many logos each position can carry and how large they may be. A Test shirt, for example, can carry up to three commercial logos and one manufacturer's mark. | ICC | ICC Clothing RegulationsAppendix 1: playing shirt Effective May 2023, as stated in the document Last checked |
The ICC regulations also cover helmets, bats, pads and other equipment. We have left those out because Nyxlete's cricket range is clothing. The document applies to international cricket; club, school and league cricket follow the rules of the board or league you play under.
Rules change: always check your own league's current rules.
Ordering
What this means when ordering kit
Practical notes for a cricket order. Rules vary by league, so send your league's kit rules with your brief. The kit order checklist turns these notes into a printable page.
- Decide whites or colours firstWhites and colours are different builds. We make traditional whites and coloured ODI/T20-style kits. Tell us the format your league plays so we start from the right one.
- Choose the name and number method with your leagueThe ICC requires sewn or heat-transferred names and numbers for international shirts. Our coloured limited-overs shirts are usually sublimated, with names and numbers normally on the back. Ask your league which methods it accepts and send its rules with the brief.
- Match socks to trousersUnder the ICC limited-overs rules, socks can match the base colour of the trousers. Confirm trouser and sock colours together so the set matches.
- Check logo sizes with your boardThe ICC caps logo count and size by position. Club boards set their own limits, so ask for them before we place sponsor artwork.
- Check the colour on the sampleA sample in 8–10 days lets you judge whether a limited-overs colour stands clear of a white ball before bulk production.
What colour must cricket whites be?
In Test matches the ICC requires playing shirts and trousers to be plain white or cream. Coloured piping or trim is allowed on the shirt in one colour, up to 0.5 cm wide, and only at the collar edge, seams and cuffs. Trousers allow piping on the pocket edges and outside leg seam.
Can ODI and T20 shirts be any colour?
Almost any. The ICC says the shirts must be coloured other than white, cream or any light colour likely to make the white ball difficult to see. The ICC's senior cricket operations manager has the final say. Every player on a team wears the same colours and design.
Can names and numbers be printed on a cricket shirt?
The ICC says numbers must be sewn on or fixed by heat transfer, and not fixed by Velcro or any temporary means. It also says names and numbers may not contain advertising. These rules are written for international shirts, so ask your league what it accepts.
Do the ICC rules apply to club cricket?
The ICC document applies to international cricket and ICC events. Club, school and league cricket follow their own board or league rules, which may be stricter or looser. Send us your league's kit rules with your quote request.
What colour should cricket socks be?
In Tests, the ICC says socks are white, cream or light grey. In ODIs and T20Is they can also be the same as the base colour of the playing trousers.
Sources
Primary sources
The documents behind this page, all read directly from the publisher. Accessed 2026-10-06. Links open in a new tab.
- ICC (International Cricket Council): Clothing and Equipment Rules and Regulations Effective May 2023, as stated in the document. Accessed 2026-10-06.
Published by Nyxlete. Summaries are our own words and are not the official text.
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