Cricket Kit Fabric Guide: T20 Coloured vs Traditional Whites

Two kits, two very different jobs

Most UK cricket clubs run two kits in parallel: traditional whites for league fixtures and a coloured T20 kit for limited-overs games. Both need to handle long days in the field, but the fabric specs differ.

Whites: stay white, all season

Look for a 180–200gsm polyester knit with a tight weave. Lightweight is fine — you want airflow on hot days — but the weave needs to resist grass and red-ball stains. Avoid open mesh on the front: it stains visibly.

A matte finish hides scuffs better than a shiny one. And always specify soil-release treatment if your supplier offers it.

T20 coloured: bold and breathable

Coloured T20 kits can run lighter — 160–180gsm — because they're played in shorter, more intense bursts. Sublimation is essential here: any printed-on logo will crack with sweat and washing.

• Pick 2 dominant colours + 1 accent
• Use mesh side panels for breathability
• Add player names + numbers sublimated, not heat-pressed

Sponsor logos that survive 50 washes

Sublimated sponsor logos last the lifetime of the shirt. Heat-pressed vinyl logos start cracking within 8–12 washes — fine for a charity match, not for a season.

One supplier, both kits

Ordering whites and coloured T20 from the same supplier means matching crest, sponsor and font treatment across both — a unified club look. See our cricket range.