Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
THE dress code in cricket has long been perceived as a reflection of “the spirit of cricket”, an integral part of the game that plays a significant role in professionalism and maintaining established standards. A cricketer’s shirt must always be tucked in, a point underscored by Sunil Gavaskar, who stated: “It’s important to dress like a proper cricketer even if you are not good at it.” He emphasised that a shirt has its place and that it must always be tucked.
Proper cricketers consistently play with their shirts tucked in. Yesteryear greats adhered to this practice, and modern-day greats continue to do so. In December 2019, during a Test match between Australia and New Zealand, the late Aussie legend Shane Warne criticised New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner for bowling with his shirt untucked, stating: “Tuck your shirt in mate, this is not club cricket.”
It appears that some players prefer to take to the field with their shirts untucked, a practice that has been criticised as unprofessional. Cricket is a gentleman’s game, and part of being a gentleman is presentation and smartness. It is a matter of culture. They say small things demonstrate respect for the game, and a tucked shirt is one of those things. Among other components, it contributes to sportsmanship. A tucked shirt, be it Test whites or various colours in white-ball cricket, also conveys a player’s intent and pride.
Former Tuskers player Tony Mupariwa shared his views on the matter, believing that it’s the little things, such as dress code and cleanliness that shape a player and instil confidence when they step onto the field.
“There is what we call the gods of cricket, it’s like what other people call karma. They look at the little things you present as a player. For you to play smart cricket, you need to look smart, your kit needs to be clean, and it also brings you closer to God. That’s what I teach my boys. A smart player is bound to play smart cricket and make fewer mistakes, I have seen it.
“I learn from the Australians. You will never see an untucked shirt from club cricket to the national team, especially in Tests. It’s the little things that make a better player. If you watch the Chevrons, you will see players like Williams and Ervine have their shirts tucked all the time, and these guys have played longer. It’s a culture that coaches need to instil in the players,” said Mupariwa.
Former Chevrons head coach, and current Zimbabwe Cricket High Performance Programme head coach Steve Mangongo, also weighed in on the issue, stating that playing with a tucked shirt is a fundamental aspect of cricket heritage that must be respected at all times.
“Cricket is a gentleman’s game. Cricket, unlike other sport traditions, is about exemplary behaviour and dress code.
“Dress code has, since time immemorial, depicted a gentleman; white attire meant cleanliness. Tucking in the shirt was a high norm to depict high standards of dressing, which then inferred a gentleman.
“It also meant cricketers were expected to be people of dignity, shown by tucking in shirts, among other etiquettes like having tea breaks, after-match drinks shared between the two rival teams.
“During the game proceedings was and is an indictment of civilised human beings. After the game, opposition teams discuss the game together. This uniqueness of cricket leads to good sportsmanship. Dress code, especially tucking in shirts, is synonymous with good discipline and mannerism,” said Mangongo. — @brandon_malvin
