Styris’ orange shoes hit the red light

So you think Twenty20 cricket is all about things innovative, gimmicky and unconventional? Not always. Scott Styris has hung up the bright orange boots he wore in the Friends Life t20 for fear of running foul of the law. The shoes were apparently just not white enough, and did not meet the ECB’s Clothing and Equipment Regulations. “I think the thing about Twenty20 cricket is that we are fighting against this gimmick tag and we are trying to make sure that this form of the game doesn't become too much of a gimmick,” ECB spokesman Steve Elworthy, reportedly told the Brentwood Gazette. “We have to make sure that cricket is at the heart of the game and we are trying to keep that balance.”

Styris, who plays for Essex, got wind of the news last Wednesday ahead of a game against Sussex. But the story has a happy ending: the shoes have since been sold through Twitter to raise money for James Foster’s benefit year.