Cricket enthusiasts across the globe have turned their fire on the Australian Test team, but this time it has nothing to do with their on-pitch performance. The target of their ire is a huge, new sponsor logo emblazoned on the front of the players' iconic white uniforms.
A Sore Thumb on the Pitch
While Australia began the first Ashes Test in Perth in brilliant fashion, taking four English wickets before lunch—including the prized scalp of former skipper Joe Root—fans were already distracted. Before a ball was bowled in anger, spectators were quick to point out the glaringly obvious Westpac logo in the centre of the players' shirts, complaining that it stuck out like a sore thumb.
The backlash was swift and unfolded in real-time on social media, where supporters voiced their displeasure directly to Cricket Australia over the decision to plaster the sponsor's branding so prominently. 'The big red @Westpac W really ruins the @CricketAus whites kit,' one person wrote on X. Another user bluntly claimed, 'That Westpac logo looks horrendous.'
The $40 Million Deal Behind the Design
This new, controversial look stems from a significant $40 million sponsorship deal signed between Westpac and Cricket Australia in July. The agreement covers both the national men's and women's teams. As part of the collaboration, the Westpac emblem is now featured on team shirts for all international matches played on home soil, including Test, One-Day, and T20 formats.
Some fans saw a silver lining, albeit a distracting one. 'Early prediction: The English batsmen are gonna complain that the giant red Westpac logo on the Australian bowlers shirts, is too distracting,' another social media user commented wryly.
This Isn't The First Sponsorship Storm
This is not the first time Cricket Australia has faced criticism for oversized sponsor logos. Back in December 2023, former Test star Damien Martyn lashed out when Toyota was the culprit. 'When has the test team started to put sponsors logo large on the front? Terrible look in test cricket. Just my old school opinion though,' Martyn posted on X at the time.
Fans were equally unimpressed then, with one joking, 'Maybe the logo could have been more of a Yaris, rather than a Landcruiser size.' Another added, 'Can we get uniforms with bigger sponsorship logos please? Maybe the players could get big Toyota insignia tattooed on their faces?' The sentiment was clear: the logos were simply too big, with one fan noting you could 'see it from space.'
Despite the dream start for the Aussie bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc and debutant Brendan Doggett, the conversation remains firmly fixed on the team's new look, proving that for many purists, some traditions are not for sale.
