MARLOW Cricket Club have been banned from wearing their snazzy new yellow and white kit in Thames Valley League matches this season.

Traditionalists on the league's committee voted unanimously that the trendy kit, which has the name of the club's sponsors Xerotec emblazoned across the back, was simply not cricket.

The decision, announced by letter last week, has hit Marlow for six because they have already spent some of the £2,500 sponsorship money they received to wear the kit.

But they know that if they do wear it they could be docked championship points or fined.

League secretary Derek Pyne said: "The management committee has unanimously said no and the reasons for that decision are between us and Marlow."

Marlow are considering their position.

Club chairman Keith Hillier said: "The kit is quite acceptable in my opinion. People might say it is breaking with the traditions of cricket but so are other clubs who have put advertising hoardings around their ground.

"We think the kit is a good idea. I think the league is being a dog in the manger. They aren't looking at the future of the game and seeing what can be done to attract youngsters into cricket.

"OK it is a bit of a gimmick, but it might attract new people to play the game and the money we need the money."

Coloured kits are commonplace in the professional one-day games.

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