England's Test kit goes back to the future

England's Test cricketers will have a retro feel to their kit when they take the field at Lord's in July, with the reintroduction of cream clothing and cable-knit sweaters by their new equipment manufacturer, New Balance.

The start of a five-year deal, worth around £2million a year to the ECB, was heralded on Tuesday night at a glamorous launch event at New Balance's flagship store in Oxford Street, London, where each of England's seven captains - in men's, women's and disability formats - paraded the new kit on a cricket-themed catwalk.

Joe Root, who will be leading England for the first time when the South Africa series gets underway in July, welcomed the return of a more traditional look and feel, after their predecessors, Adidas, had opted for a "brilliant white" look to their Test kit back in 2008.

"I love it," Root said. "It feels like I'm a kid again, it's as traditional as it gets. It's like my first woollen jumper my grandma knitted me so it takes it all back to the beginning, and it's a nice way to remind yourself that even though there are times when we're under a lot of pressure, it's a game we enjoy playing."

"The guys in 2005 who won the Ashes wore the old cable-knit jumper and there are some great iconic moments in English cricket that are associated with clothes like this, so hopefully there will be many more in the future."

For 50-over cricket, England will wear a blue and purple outfit, which will be showcased for the first time on Friday when the first ODI against Ireland gets underway, and a red-and-blue hooped shirt for T20s.