Stanford brings colour to cricket

It's the coming of the evolution of cricket - the Stanford 20/20 tournament to be played at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Antigua from July 11 to August 13.

The Barbados cricketers got a chance this week to try out the new kits and from all reports they are loving it. The gear was handed over by Raj Walia, the Toronto-based manufacturer, who is part owner of Vampire and BAS cricket equipment.

The bats are black, with the Stanford 20/20 logo on the front and back. The balls are orange and will offer more swing. The helmets are black and will have a blue and yellow stripe. The pads and batting gloves will have a similar design. Each player in the 19 participating teams will get a kit, and over 500 balls have been manufactured.

The stumps and bails will be silver, and organisers are promising a spectacle during the matches which will be played in the afternoon under natural light and at night under floodlights.