I once saw a Victorian shirt from the 1984-85 summer listed on eBay and didn't bid on it because it was too small to wear, the kind of self-control I can no longer boast. I'd buy it ten times over now. After all, it might have been worn by 2-game wicketkeeper Phillip Hyde. What was I thinking?
The Mercantile Mutual Cup went out with a bang in its final two years, which utilized the last half-decent shirt design in my opinion. This was a real return to form from ISC, borrowing elements from the 89-90 shirt in cuts more flattering to the likes of David Saker and Don Nash.
2000-2001 Mercantile Mutual Cup
There is something utterly ridiculous about this design. Every one of them featured the team mascot, but so low on the shirt that you could only actually see the top half of it. Was it meant to look like Matthew Elliott was keeping Ned Kelly hostage in his pants? Who knows
I'm beginning to sense a theme here. Did Adidas just put their work experience kid on this task after their first year as the kit supplier?
Here's Theo Doropoulos getting some runs for WA. Did any news outlet even send a photographer to the final? Queensland beat Victoria but I can't find any photographic proof.
Minimal changes to the uniform roster other than the Big V design making an appearance for the Vics. It's not a bad look, actually.
2014-2015 Matador Barbecues One-Day Cup
And finally, we grind our way to the finish line and the inaugural Matador Barbecues One-Day Cup. The only thing dodgier than these shirts is Nic Maddinson's hair.
That Cricinfo post seemed to strike a chord with a few people, so I hereby present you with every coloured uniform in Australian domestic one-day cricket history, starting from their inception for the 1982-83 McDonalds Cup, right up until the soon-to-be-completed and less evocatively-named 'Matador Barbecues One-Day Cup.' I've brought a maniac spirit to this post, in which I'd intended to include one example of each shirt but then let it get way out of hand. Still, if you've got a photo of Scott Prestwidge, it's rude not to share it.
At some point I may update this and provide some more detail on the designers and the competitions themselves, but for now let's just stick with pictures because that's what you're really here for. One final word of warning; uniform designers were dead to me after about 1999 and you might feel the same way, so the final 15 years at the bottom was something of a chore for me and I'm sure it will be for you other purists.
And finally, a little bit of perspective; even amid the technicolour incursion of Packer's World Series Cricket, this is what domestic one-day uniforms looks like in 1979-80, when Victoria won the McDonalds Cup:
And finally, a little bit of perspective; even amid the technicolour incursion of Packer's World Series Cricket, this is what domestic one-day uniforms looks like in 1979-80, when Victoria won the McDonalds Cup:
1982-83 McDonalds Cup
What a start for the colourful new competition. These designs closely mimicked the Australian one-day kits of the era, which as you would know, readers, were the zenith of sports fashion. I also like that players still wore their Sheffield Shield caps to go with them.
Throw in Greg Chappell's minimalist Gray Nicolls Scoop and this one just makes my heart sing.
Western Australia looked particularly spiffy and the eventual demise of Victoria's powder blue kit is something that should be mourned in unison with the disappearance of New Zealand's beige.The bowler here is Ian Callen.
Is there a greater cult domestic cricketer than Harry Frei? Born in West Germany, a stranger to professional cricket until the age of 31 and also a handy enough Australian Rules footballer to have managed 6 games for Footscray, the former left-arm quick is surely worthy of an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary.
Wayne Andrews glances, Kim Hughes looks in the truly magnificent Western Australia kit. The advertising hoarding is a great reminder of those crazy, shambolic days when we happily associated fast food with limited overs cricket. Oh hang on...
Yep, that is Mo Matthews, sadly not yet bowling with his hat on. The truly rubbish old ACB logo also makes a cameo appearance in the background.
If you were worried that the family of former Tasmanian all-rounder David Smith had no reminder of his 14 List A games of the early 80s, fear not. Here's a photo of him being bowled by Ian Callen.
This was the first game of domestic one-day cricket played in coloured clothing. Rick McCosker wanders in the background and the Western Australian batsmen are Greg Shipperd and Ken MacLeay.
Given that Australia wore the same yellow trousers at this point, you'd think some yellow pads could have been arranged for the South Australians, but apparently not.
Joel Garner goes the heave in front of Steve Rixon. How BIG are those pads?
Dirk Wellham is cleansed by Western Australia's David Boyd. This also serves as a reminder of the brief but magnificent reign of Tusker Symonds cricket bats.
What a start for the colourful new competition. These designs closely mimicked the Australian one-day kits of the era, which as you would know, readers, were the zenith of sports fashion. I also like that players still wore their Sheffield Shield caps to go with them.
Throw in Greg Chappell's minimalist Gray Nicolls Scoop and this one just makes my heart sing.
Western Australia looked particularly spiffy and the eventual demise of Victoria's powder blue kit is something that should be mourned in unison with the disappearance of New Zealand's beige.The bowler here is Ian Callen.
Is there a greater cult domestic cricketer than Harry Frei? Born in West Germany, a stranger to professional cricket until the age of 31 and also a handy enough Australian Rules footballer to have managed 6 games for Footscray, the former left-arm quick is surely worthy of an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary.
Wayne Andrews glances, Kim Hughes looks in the truly magnificent Western Australia kit. The advertising hoarding is a great reminder of those crazy, shambolic days when we happily associated fast food with limited overs cricket. Oh hang on...
Yep, that is Mo Matthews, sadly not yet bowling with his hat on. The truly rubbish old ACB logo also makes a cameo appearance in the background.
If you were worried that the family of former Tasmanian all-rounder David Smith had no reminder of his 14 List A games of the early 80s, fear not. Here's a photo of him being bowled by Ian Callen.
This was the first game of domestic one-day cricket played in coloured clothing. Rick McCosker wanders in the background and the Western Australian batsmen are Greg Shipperd and Ken MacLeay.
Given that Australia wore the same yellow trousers at this point, you'd think some yellow pads could have been arranged for the South Australians, but apparently not.
Joel Garner goes the heave in front of Steve Rixon. How BIG are those pads?
Dirk Wellham is cleansed by Western Australia's David Boyd. This also serves as a reminder of the brief but magnificent reign of Tusker Symonds cricket bats.
1983-84 McDonalds Cup
The second season of the colourful comp applied the quite sound logic that if it ain't broke, don't fix it, so the uniforms remained the same. That doesn't mean I'll skip the opportunity to pay it photographic homage.
This is a quite wonderful shot because it captures three of the undisputed legends of Australian cricket; Marsh, Lillee and The Don. Don O'Connor, that is.
And the winners were...South Australia! Here's Kevin Wright accepting the trophy and blending in nicely with the corporate colours of the competition sponsor.
1984-85 McDonalds Cup
The first uniform tweak, as the coloured side-panels are replaced by a more minimalist design. Not the most exciting kit ever but the key is the retention of all of those magnificent colours and just keeping it simple. The coloured pockets are a real winner, too.
This is a quite wonderful shot because it captures three of the undisputed legends of Australian cricket; Marsh, Lillee and The Don. Don O'Connor, that is.
Looks like Ken McLeay is doing a bit of a Kane Richardson here, but I could be wrong. Can anyone name the mop-headed Victorian batsman?
Harry Highpants and Larry Lowpants stop for a brief conference. I love the way Bacchus has taken full advantage of the shirt designer's prolific use of buttons to really air out his chest.
South Australian skipper Kevin Wright takes the bails in front of Rod Marsh.
Trevor Chappell gets castled during his stint as a Sandgroper.
This is just magnificent, don't you think? Wayne Phillips looks to be the keeper for South Australia and Julian Weiner is at the non-strikers end, but is that a young Dean Jones batting? The scorecard suggests so. Sam Parkinson got both of them in the end.
Classic Bacchus, beautifully showing off the magnificence of the WA kit.
And the winners were...South Australia! Here's Kevin Wright accepting the trophy and blending in nicely with the corporate colours of the competition sponsor.
1984-85 McDonalds Cup
The first uniform tweak, as the coloured side-panels are replaced by a more minimalist design. Not the most exciting kit ever but the key is the retention of all of those magnificent colours and just keeping it simple. The coloured pockets are a real winner, too.
Hookesy rolling his arm over in front of a packed and heaving crowd.
Dirk Wellham goes the biff. As ever, I'll take this opportunity to recommend his book, Solid Knocks and Second Thoughts. I've always found him a fascinating character, Dirk. The last I heard he was a school principal, which really just feels right.
Not really sure what's going on here with Mo's shirt. As usual, he's rocking the long-sleeve version, which appears to just be an entirely different design to the rest.
There's a young Steve Waugh in the middle, but the real treat of this pic is the presence of Phil Marks and his Greg Normanesque barnet. I just tried to click on his Cricinfo profile but got an error message that mentions something about "guru meditation." He really is a mystical figure I guess.
Everyone's favourite post-Marsh Aussie wicket-keeper, Greg Dyer.
Western Australian Peter Clough was unsuccessful in this attempt to catch Dirk Wellham off his own bowling, but the folks who put together the Wide World of Sports yearbook saw fit to include a frame-by-frame sequence of his shambolic effort, which was nice. Many of the photos in this post are from those annuals, as current/former owners would recognize. The rest are from the brilliant but short-lived large-format version of 'Australian Cricket' magazine.
Simon O'Donnell appeals for a run-out decision against Queenslander Robbie Kerr.
Kerr was safe and ended up with an undefeated 92 to guide Queensland home by 8 wickets. The Victorian middle-order was decimated by a 4-wicket spell by the fearsome Kepler Wessels.
Hmm, someone has labelled this one incorrectly because it's the kit from the year before, but it's still a nice pic of Steve Rixon so I'll leave it there.
Speaking of cult figures, here is Roger Wooley appealing to the square leg umpire in unison with a Tasmanian import who then went by his birth name Balfour Patterson, not his his middle name, Patrick. That was information that you needed, right?
1985-86 McDonalds Cup
The 84-85 uniform design got re-upped for the 85-86 season, a competition that was won by the Western Australians.
The 84-85 uniform design got re-upped for the 85-86 season, a competition that was won by the Western Australians.
Here's one for all of you dedicated Denis Hickey fans. You look at this photo and really wonder how he suffered so many injuries.
More sharp work behind the pegs by Greg Dyer.
New South Wales won a thriller by one run here.
An unidentified Tasmanian player going the biff with the assistance of one of those old-school perspex face guards. How did people bat in them without worrying that their face would be sliced in half when it inevitably broke?
Is this Keith Bradshaw? I'm almost certain that the photo was taken in this game, so any help identifying the player would be appreciated.
Tim Zoehrer and Wayne Andrews celebrate a nail-biting win over New South Wales, which is a little bit awkward because their side has actually just lost by a run.
WA star Mike Veletta on his way to an unbeaten 67 in the rained-out final against Victoria.
The Sandgropers won the re-match a day later but Denis Hickey doesn't seem to mind too much.
1986-87 McDonalds Cup
The uniforms were ever-so slightly altered, but nothing major. Things were so relaxed in this era that players occasionally just abandoned any protocol and wore shirts from as long ago as the first two seasons.
The uniforms were ever-so slightly altered, but nothing major. Things were so relaxed in this era that players occasionally just abandoned any protocol and wore shirts from as long ago as the first two seasons.
Glenn Bishop glances in front of David Boon in a piece of pure, 1980s cricket uniform porn.
Glenn Bishop, his Gunn and Moore Maestro and cult Tasmanian wicket-keeper Richard Soule - is there a better cricket photo you will see today? Probably not. I still have an article stashed away somewhere in which Chappelli rates Soule a genuine chance of taking the Australian gloves from Ian Healy. I guess the Aussie selectors didn't get that memo.
A couple of things worth noting in this series: yes, I'm pretty sure that David Hookes has taken the gloves in this pic (though DJ Kelly is listed as the South Australian wicketkeeper and again I can't access his Cricinfo profile for some reason), but more importantly, yes, that is an orange ball that they're playing with. Keith Bradshaw is the batsman for Tassie.
Future national hate figure Andrew Hilditch attempts to run out a Victorian batsman (is it Simon O'Donnell?) in the tied semi final.
Back to the Tasmania-South Australia match and the wonderful sight of Wayne Phillips donning his 1982-83-model shirt and the powers that be clearly giving zero fucks about it.
The SACA Spuds won this one and thus gave us this brilliant photo of Hookesy.
1987-88 McDonalds Cup
The ACB stick with a winner and go with more or less the same shirts again, though Western Australia switch to an all-yellow design and the contrast-coloured pockets are only seen on the trousers of players who aren't issued the new kit. Again, no-one seems to particularly care that players are often wearing the wrong shirts and trousers. What a crazy, mixed up world it was in the late 80s. You just shake your head at the insanity of it all. Just mental.
The ACB stick with a winner and go with more or less the same shirts again, though Western Australia switch to an all-yellow design and the contrast-coloured pockets are only seen on the trousers of players who aren't issued the new kit. Again, no-one seems to particularly care that players are often wearing the wrong shirts and trousers. What a crazy, mixed up world it was in the late 80s. You just shake your head at the insanity of it all. Just mental.
Glen Hughes, brother of Kim and one of Tasmania's ever-evolving cast of rival-state cast-offs, decides that the best way to counter the orange ball is to just close your eyes and swing.
Graeme Wood loses his wicket to a young and lean Merv Hughes.
The WA shirt looks a bit 70s, actually. Typical Western Australians having to wear a different shirt to everyone else. Separatism hits the cricket uniform world.
Jamie Siddons looking magnificent in Victoria's powder blue. Remember ear discs?
Another great summary of the uniform madness; different sweaters, shirts from five years ago, mismatched trousers - all that is missing is some white keeping pads and a rival state cap.
The Tassie boys having a rare laugh. At far right is Tasmanian all-rounder Peter Faulkner, he of the Rebel Tours and Test-player son.
Another dead trend: white fielding hats in one-dayers.
And the winners are....fashion and New South Wales. This pic was spread over two pages so I had to cut out a fresh-faced Mark Waugh. Nice work on the champagne bottle by Whit.
1988-89 FAI Insurance Cup
A new naming rights sponsor but the same uniform-design brilliance.
A new naming rights sponsor but the same uniform-design brilliance.
A young Damien Fleming, whose speed would have been even greater were it not for his ridiculous, curving run-up and the need to haul 4 kilograms of mullet through the crease every time he bowled.
Steve Waugh grasses Boony in the slips. Often I look at pictures of the meager crowds at domestic cricket matches featuring all-time greats like these guys and want to jump in a time machine. This is one of those moments.
I'm not quite sure what the Fat Cat was trying to do here but whatever it was, it doesn't appear to have worked.
A young, relatively-slim Darren Lehmann goes on the offensive. I love the yellow gloves and random Greg Chappell hat, which doesn't quite disguise another thumping mullet.
In lieu of actual spectators, it's long been a tradition of domestic one-dayers that you fetch your own sixes.
Vics keeper Michael Dimattina was touted as a potential Australian keeper but within a couple of years he'd been replaced by Darren Berry for the Vics and disappeared off the face of the earth.
And the AB-led Queenslanders take out a rare trophy at that point, reveling in the traditional hoisting of the days-old FAI Insurance Cup, which isn't even a cup.
1989-90 FAI Insurance Cup
The contrast colour moves to the sleeves in a kind of wing effect, but despite the minimalist designs there are significant uniform changes. The Vics ditch the powder blue for good, while South Australia and Tassie lose the yellow, replacing them with navy blue and red, respectively.
The contrast colour moves to the sleeves in a kind of wing effect, but despite the minimalist designs there are significant uniform changes. The Vics ditch the powder blue for good, while South Australia and Tassie lose the yellow, replacing them with navy blue and red, respectively.
Journeyman Don O'Connor bobs up in Tassie, to minimal impact in this particular case.
This was in that strange period where South Australia had a dip at stealing kids from the cricket academy, hence Michael Bevan turning out for the SACA. Lookin' good, Bevo. Is that Soul Glo in his hair? He looks like Lionel Richie.
I think I've documented my love of Paul Nobes before on these pages. By the look on his face he's about to be caught at slip here.
Not sure they made much effort to match the colour of the shirts and trousers, but I still think it's a good look on Terry Alderman.
And just for something completely different, Western Australia win another title. I like the presence of Chris Matthews and the swarthy-hipster-looking bloke here. Is it Peter Capes or Tom Hogan? Looks a lot like the latter.
1990-91 FAI Insurance Cup
This edition featured the same uniforms as the year before and the same result too, with Western Australia going back-to-back.
This edition featured the same uniforms as the year before and the same result too, with Western Australia going back-to-back.
Jamie Siddons tries to avoid being stumped by Phil Emery in the semi final. The Vics only managed 160, which it's needless to say was a pretty simple chase for the home side. The game boasted 15 current or future Test players.
A brilliant shot of big Merv steaming in.
Rod Tucker indulging us with both uniform, helmet and obscure state association logo porn in the one shot. That lime green really needs to make a return.
Speaking of helmet talk, the other day on Twitter someone was talking to me about the late 80s helmets where a smaller grill attached to the ear discs. I've forgotten who it was, but this photo of Steve Small is for you.
And a close-up as Merv and Deano celebrate the wicket.
WA goes back-to-back to take out the coveted trophy. Is it still in a cabinet somewhere? I genuinely would like to hold it so I could feel the spirit of Trevor Bayliss passing through me.
Cracker Holdsworth doing his thing.
1991-92 FAI Cup
The uniforms stay the same but after four years as naming rights sponsor, someone at FAI finally decides it might be a good idea to put their logo on the front of the shirts. What a quaint concept.
The uniforms stay the same but after four years as naming rights sponsor, someone at FAI finally decides it might be a good idea to put their logo on the front of the shirts. What a quaint concept.
Boof looking more confused than he should be in such a magnificent Victorian uniform. I wish he'd stayed a Bushranger.
Dirk Wellham surfaces up in Queensland without any great impact.
So too does a particularly rotund Greg Ritchie, whose comeback in the maroon and gold produced scores of 2 and 12. Not exactly textbook stuff in this picture.
Boof was very stiff in this instance - there can't have been a lot of cricketers who were run out by the Fat Cat.
Mark Waugh with some characteristic flair.
Bevo made his way to New South Wales but appears to have been pretty comprehensively cleansed on this occasion.
What do you reckon Deano is thinking at this point? I feel like it's definitely something strident.
New South Wales' turn to rotate the trophy with Western Australia. In the middle of the back row, Brad McNamara is taking plenty of mental notes for anecdotes he can trot out in future Matador Barbecues One-Day Cup broadcasts. So cricket fans are the real winner, I guess.
1992-93 Mercantile Mutual Cup
New name, new logo, new shirts and in my opinion, the golden era of domestic one-day cricket, even if I only think that because it's when I was most obsessed with it as a kid.
1993-94 Mercantile Mutual Cup
Why mess with a winning formula? In my opinion these were the best domestic one-day uniforms ever.
1994-95 Mercantile Mutual Cup
New name, new logo, new shirts and in my opinion, the golden era of domestic one-day cricket, even if I only think that because it's when I was most obsessed with it as a kid.
In this competition, we had the novel introduction of the sponsors sign attached to the fence, which offered swashbuckling players to win quite obscene amounts of cash for hitting it. I think Matador should get Brad McNamara to man a barbecue on the hill (surely the ideal location for unleashing his patented brand of banter) at North Sydney Oval and if a player hits him with a six, they get one million dollars and an honorary title.
It's a rare cricket photo that almost literally arouses me, but the sight of Paul Nobes in this particular design of the Victorian shirt just really does it for me. Does anyone have one of these that they'd like to sell me? I'd literally pay $250 for an XL. If it's Paul Nobes' actual shirt, I'll wash your car for two years as well.
Western Australia's version of this design was also magnificent. These were the creation of ISC, who did their best work in the 3-year period that followed the release of these shirts.
Quelle surprise - New South Wales take out the title. A young Slats hovers on the left. Some time in the early 2000s I bought Mo Matthews' shirt and trousers from this year on eBay but in a tragic turn of events, appear to have had them purloined by someone and never returned. The kicker was that the person selling them was a woman claiming that she "used to be friends" with Matthews. Let your imagination roll on that one...
Why mess with a winning formula? In my opinion these were the best domestic one-day uniforms ever.
Chuck Berry looking good for the Vics.
Brad McNamara experiences the crushing feeling of disappointment that GEM viewers feel when he hits the commentary booth. In fairness though, I'd much prefer a Buzzard-led panel of commentators than no coverage at all, so if you Google yourself Brad (and let's be honest, we both know you do), you're doing a wonderful job and I love every single one of your grade cricket stories. Serious question, do you run the Grade Cricketer Twitter account?
Dene Hills in the magnificent lime green Tassie strip.
Underrated South Australian all-rounder Joe Scuderi gets on the front foot. For obscure 1990s cricket equipment fetishists, yes those are Eastern brand pads. UPDATE: Yes, this photo has been flipped around the wrong way somehow. I can't be bothered fixing it.
New South Wales giant Phil Alley takes a wicket in a rare moment that he wasn't in an emergency ward being taped back together.
Bevo, Swampy, Ziggy - this is a Mark Lavender short of being domestic cricket perfection.
Be still my beating heart! Boony uses his Gray Nicolls Ultimate to attractive effect at the North Sydney Oval.
A little bit more Phil Emery for you.
I wasn't going to disappoint you and fully realise that no homage to domestic cricket would be complete without some Richard Chee Quee.
Some more Chee Quee. Sometimes you've just got to give the people what they want.
It was a bit of a pity that Shane George never progressed further than the odd Australia A game. A most underrated all-rounder for the SACA.
The yellow lettering looked great on the South Australia kit. I bet that's exactly what Tim Nielsen is thinking in this photo.
New South Wales do it again, and Gavin Robertson gets us close to the complete set of Six and Out members.
By the way, is this YouTube's finest moment? It's quite possible.
I'm sure there are ardent fans of the 1994-95 Mercantile Mutual Cup shirt design, and it's definitely an improvement on contemporary shirts, but I'm not among the appreciators of this one. It sort of combines the worst elements of golfwear and training gear to me. Not as bad as some of the years that followed and at least a simple and striking design, but not one to raise the pulse.
Of course, 94-95 was also host to one of the naffest and most mercilessly-brief cricket uniform trends in cricket history; Victoria's shorts/bike-pants combination. Seen below, Troy Corbett doesn't look too bad, but the sight of Merv Hughes' uncovered legs pumping away by the boundary rather uncomfortably brought to mind the window of a butcher's shop.
Who am I to judge though? The embarrassment of having to wear them appeared to be a galvanizing force in the Bushrangers squad and they took out the title.
1995-96 Mercantile Mutual Cup
Unless the captions on my source material are wrong, which is a possibility, the 95-96 comp saw some teams switching to a design with stripes down the midle and a large logo on the shoulder.
1996-97 Mercantile Mutual Cup
Okay, I think the pics before with logos on the shoulders must have been mislabeled. Everyone has them in this set. Again, I'm not a huge fan of this design but it's better than the muck that passes for one-day uniforms these days.
I didn't do any editing here, this is genuinely how the picture appeared in the book. I'd like to think that there was some kind of production meeting where it was decided the only humane thing to do was crop the it, but some graphic design lackey forgot to remove the bottom part. Nice chicken legs, Pistol.
Remember that time before people started inventing food intolerances to satisfy their craving to boss around hospitality workers and we paid attention to the food pyramid? This is my version of that pyramid.
Late-career Billy McDermott.
Deano and his adoring Melbourne public. The rest were at home crafting "Bring back Deano" banners for the upcoming one-day internationals.
Ian 'Freak' Harvey using the full force of his Gunn and Moore Diamond.
Jamie Siddons goes big, no doubt with Mark Waugh trying to sledge him into submission in the background.
As a steady, unspectacular medium-pacer myself, I always took great heart from Neil Maxwell's ability to linger in professional cricket ranks for so long.
Wade Seccombe, apparently a big Paul Keating fan.
Slats popping his colour and going the full Mo Matthews (every button done up, Rainman-style)
After 15 years the Vics finally win another domestic one-day title. Maybe they should have stuck with the shorts...
Unless the captions on my source material are wrong, which is a possibility, the 95-96 comp saw some teams switching to a design with stripes down the midle and a large logo on the shoulder.
Deano with the then-flashy and new Bushrangers logo on his shoulder.
Ponytail-era Jason Gillespie. Remember when there was actual debate surrounding the fact that he's need to chop that off to get picked for Australia? He does look like a Soundgarden roadie, to be completely fair.
Boof sends one into the reliable hands of Mark Waugh at first slip.
Oh...
Twilight era Tony Dodemaide
A year after their drought-breaking Sheffield Shield win, Queensland break through for another one-day title as well. Far right in his pads is Geoff Foley, a lovely bloke and the first cricketer I ever interviewed.
1996-97 Mercantile Mutual Cup
Okay, I think the pics before with logos on the shoulders must have been mislabeled. Everyone has them in this set. Again, I'm not a huge fan of this design but it's better than the muck that passes for one-day uniforms these days.
Post Advanced Hair Mo. Remember a couple of years ago when he claimed he was still the best spinner in Australia and available for selection? I bloody love Mo.
Michael di Venuto showing the form that would lead to a brief reign as Australia's one-day opener.
The Warriors win the title and this is a good point to make a confession: I own an example of this shirt, which is an act of treachery for a Victorian but still...have a look at the thing!
1997-98 Mercantile Mutual Cup
I cannot tell you how excited 13-year-old me was about the inclusion of the Canberra Comets for this season of the Mercantile Mutual Cup. I still have a home-taped VHS copy of their game against South Australia to prove it. The uniforms were the same again, with the addition of Canberra's magnificent blue and yellow strip. Again, if anyone has one they want to sell...
An over-the-hill Merv Hughes? Sure.
57-year-old Mike Veletta as captain (and in some cases, wicketkeeper)? Sign me up!
Finally the internet can boast a decent photo of Stuart Karppinen. Finally!
More Mike Veletta magic.
Ryan Campbell goes the biff for the Warriors.
I really must scan a few more pics so that there's some Dirk Tazelaar in this post, but how about some Scott Prestwidge as a temporary consolation prize?
This was the point that numbers first appeared on shirts, but in keeping with the shambolic spirit of the previous 15 years, they appear to have been store-bought iron-ons. Did Richard Chee Quee's Mum get lumped with that job?
This is a photograph of a professional athlete.
The Queenslanders made it through to the final.
And duly took out another title. John Buchanan is lurking in the background and I love the way Paul Jackson is giving it the basketball-style single finger for the amount of titles he's won.
1998-99 Mercantile Mutual Cup
More of the same in 98-99. Stripes down the middle, Mrs Chee Quee's iron-on letters and numbers on the back.
1999-2000 Mercantile Mutual Cup
More of the same in 98-99. Stripes down the middle, Mrs Chee Quee's iron-on letters and numbers on the back.
Nathan Bracken takes a wicket as the Mercantile Mutual sign mocks the batsman in the background.
Matthew Hayden on the drive
I must apologise to all you Shawn Flegler devotees because I was unable to find a pic of the victorious Bushrangers team, but here's a shot of the final captains, Bevo and Pistol.
1999-2000 Mercantile Mutual Cup
The Mercantile Mutual Cup went out with a bang in its final two years, which utilized the last half-decent shirt design in my opinion. This was a real return to form from ISC, borrowing elements from the 89-90 shirt in cuts more flattering to the likes of David Saker and Don Nash.
For some unknown reason, green and white were both added to the Queensland kit this season. What did that symbolize? Envy?
I think that 99-00 summer was my peak for domestic game attendance. I went to nearly every Victoria game in Melbourne. Can't believe I didn't have a girlfriend that summer...
Looking good in the Canberra Comets huddle. WA won this installment but again, I'll be buggered if I can find a photo of their champion team.
I'm pretty sure this was the season that I listened on as post-dismissal Michael Slater went berserk in the change rooms at Punt Road Oval. He seemed to be smashing everything in the room, which I remember with far greater clarity than the match itself.
Remember Ben Oliver? Well here he is anyway. I think this was a game at Punt Road Oval that I attended. You can't ask for more up close, expert analysis than this, can you?
Brad Hodge trying to convince the umpire that he hasn't just been trapped dead in front.
Lookin' good, Pistol.
Perhaps I haven't delivered as many obscure players as you'd hoped for, but here's some Shawn Craig to redress that balance a little.
Another win for the Blues.
2001-2002 ING Cup
These ones were just dire (are they the worst design ever? They'd have to be close) and also occurred in the era in which first-class sides were playing for the 'Pura Cup' instead of the traditional Sheffield Shield. It doesn't need repeating that Australia was still ruling the international game at this point, but based on this kit you'd have to say that cracks were beginning to emerge.
Whoever designed these should be named and shamed. Not even the sight of Shawn Bradstreet can cheer me up when I look at this photo. It looks like a grade cricket match and when I say that, I'm not still talking about Shawn Bradstreet.
Warnie calling for a change of uniform. Even Cricinfo don't have a photo of tournament winners New South Wales, which I'd like to think was a subtle protest.
2002-2003 ING Cup
An improvement by default but still a terrible effort from the people at Fila. Sort of like the fourth season of The Wire, this one solidified my thoughts that the golden era of cricket kit design was over.
2003-2004 ING Cup
An improvement by default but still a terrible effort from the people at Fila. Sort of like the fourth season of The Wire, this one solidified my thoughts that the golden era of cricket kit design was over.
Michael Dighton battling through the indignity of his terrible get-up.
When I was scanning around the internet for pictures from this summer, I never expected the gut-punch that was this shot of Flemo turning out for the Redbacks. Yuck.
New South Wales doing New South Wales stuff.
There is something utterly ridiculous about this design. Every one of them featured the team mascot, but so low on the shirt that you could only actually see the top half of it. Was it meant to look like Matthew Elliott was keeping Ned Kelly hostage in his pants? Who knows
He's laughing because he's just seen the sight of himself on the scoreboard.
Just a quick one for Graeme Rummans enthisiasts.
Not even the presence of a XXXX logo and Stuart Law evokes the spirit of cricket shirt design's golden era.
Oh, the Warriors logo snuck even further down still. Awful.
2004-2005 ING Cup
Just give up, seriously. What even is this? A Bushranger on their legs as well? Urgh. Remove the cartoon characters and this is basically a lawn bowls outfit.
Cameron White appealing for the restoration of quality kit design.
Is that a Redback spider down the front of your pants or are you just happy to have been given a bowl, Matthew Weeks?
Daniel Marsh's underpants putting the final nail in the coffin of that particular Tasmanian Tiger.
A Tassie win was at least a nice novelty.
2005-2006 ING Cup
Not as bad as the year before but still not great. Normally I'd be all for the addition of the Adidas three-stripe to virtually any garment of sports clothing, but this one's just a little uninspired. An improvement, for sure, but still nothing to write home about.
Brad Hodge starts rehearsing his next talkback radio outburst.
The Redbacks version is actually pretty decent, now that I look at it.
Ryan Campbell in his limited overs swansong. How much must he spew that he missed out on the T20 era?
This just feels like self-harm now.
Serious question: does anyone know the wherabouts of Cullen Bailey? Did he fall down a hole somewhere? Did he join a terrorist cell? Any updates would be appreciated.
UPDATE: it has been brought to my attention that Cullen Bailey is killing it in Adelaide grade cricket, mainly as a batsman, and also working as a public servant. Indications are that he has not yet been radicalized.
UPDATE: it has been brought to my attention that Cullen Bailey is killing it in Adelaide grade cricket, mainly as a batsman, and also working as a public servant. Indications are that he has not yet been radicalized.
2006-2007 Ford Ranger Cup
A new and appropriately bland name for the competition. Adidas clearly felt the shirts needed no new dash of inspiration from the previous season and stuck with the template from the year before..
Queensland took out another title and gleefully accepted the newest in a long line of dodgy trophies the competition has offered up.
2007-2008 Ford Ranger Cup
A bit more of the same again. Not the worst effort but not something I can ever see myself drunkenly purchasing on eBay and then hiding in my sock drawer.
2008-2009 Ford Ranger Cup
A bit more of the same again. Not the worst effort but not something I can ever see myself drunkenly purchasing on eBay and then hiding in my sock drawer.
Kasper deserved better in his last game than this shirt.
Another win for Tassie.
2008-2009 Ford Ranger Cup
I'm beginning to sense a theme here. Did Adidas just put their work experience kid on this task after their first year as the kit supplier?
Here's Theo Doropoulos getting some runs for WA. Did any news outlet even send a photographer to the final? Queensland beat Victoria but I can't find any photographic proof.
2009-2010 Ford Ranger Cup
Adidas must have given up at this point and so did whoever designed the next lot of kits. Silver for Victoria? Why not..Actually, Victoria's indoor cricket team probably wore a more inspiring uniform than this.
Brad Hodge and John Hastings wondering where their collars went. The zipper is just the final slap in the face.
Brady Jones is far more excited about this Xavier Doherty wicket than I am about continuing on with the last few entries of this blog post.
Western Australia in black? Is nothing sacred? Also can't think of a worse colour to be wearing in the Perth heat.
2010-2011 Ryobi One-Day Cup
I'm reasonably certain that the Sydney grade cricket comp had better one-day kits than these in 10-11.
Brad Hodge was about to quit and focus his attentions on Twenty20 only. Even the IPLs metallic kits are better than this.
Bit more yellow for WA, but their shirts look like something a hardware sales rep would be getting around in.
Ryan Duffield lets a customer know he can have 60-day terms on his account.
The Vics win another genuinely dodgy-looking trophy.
2011-2012 Ryobi Cup
There's a bit more consistency about these ones, but still not great, are they? Anyone still reading at this point?
2012-2013 Ryobi Cup
"Nope, we genuinely can't improve on perfection, can we?" said the people down at KooGa as they signed off on these.
2013-2014 Ryobi Cup
There's a bit more consistency about these ones, but still not great, are they? Anyone still reading at this point?
Nathan Lyon - the Groundskeeper Willie years.
Tom Triffit in happier times.
The Chuck Berry-coached Spuds salute in the final.
2012-2013 Ryobi Cup
"Nope, we genuinely can't improve on perfection, can we?" said the people down at KooGa as they signed off on these.
James Hopes completes his 800th game of domestic cricket.
The Queenslanders get back on the honour roll. What happens to the old trophies, by the way? Does the final winner just get to keep it?
Minimal changes to the uniform roster other than the Big V design making an appearance for the Vics. It's not a bad look, actually.
Scott Boland - Frankston's finest.
No expense was spared for the presentation area, was it? It was good of the Sydney-region Ryobi sales rep to rush down with the backdrop.
2014-2015 Matador Barbecues One-Day Cup
And finally, we grind our way to the finish line and the inaugural Matador Barbecues One-Day Cup. The only thing dodgier than these shirts is Nic Maddinson's hair.
Ben Dunk's unbeaten 229 from 157 balls set up a big win for Tassie...
...maybe not then.
