The 'evolution' of the baggy green

Ricky Ponting is excited about the Test series starting in the West Indies, but he also uses his column in the Australian to justify the cap controversy of the opening tour match. A sponsor’s hat was worn instead of the white floppy or baggy green.

Some former players were upset that we did not wear the cap during our warm-up game, but they do not understand what happened or why. There has been an evolution in what the baggy green means to the Australian team and I would argue that there has never been a time when it was more respected.

In the Herald Sun Ian Chappell says too much is made of the baggy green and it is a “$5 bit of cloth”.

"It is a cap, a nice cap, but has only become more than a cap since Steve Waugh started to jump up and down about it," Chappell said. "Cricket memorabilia has also played its part, going for ridiculous prices. It is a $5 bit of cloth. I haven't got one, haven't had one since the day I finished. I don't need to look at an Australian cap to remind me of what I did."