The change to the Ashes that's dividing cricket fans

In a change that’s divided cricket fans, Australia’s Test cricketers are set to have their surnames and numbers emblazoned on the back of their playing shirts for the first time

According to Cricket.com.au, Australian cricket authorities are already in the process of planning for the Test playing kit to have numbers on the back for the upcoming winter’s Ashes squad.

Test players have worn plain white uniforms since the first match took place 142 years ago, although numbers on caps and series details have been introduced recently with the Australians also having their initials stitched into the sleeve on the side of their dominant hand.

While the proposed changes have been met with resistance from traditionalists, the changes have been met with optimism by Australian Test cricketer Travis Head.

"It doesn't bother me in the slightest, and I think if it helps the fans then that's a good thing," Head told cricket.com.au.

"That's why they brought it into Shield cricket, so that people could identify players they probably don't see all that often, especially now with games being live-streamed.

"Obviously, the detail in the television coverage these days is pretty good, so I guess this is aimed more at people who are at the ground."

Head said fans shouldn’t be worried about the move because it won’t impact the game itself unlike recent changes made to diversify the format with the pink ball.

"It's not like the introduction of the pink ball for Test cricket, it's one of those innovations that won't have a huge impact on the game itself," Head said.

"But if it means kids can identify their favourite player a bit more easily at the ground, then I'm all for it."

Australia’s Ashes squad will be named  mid-July, with an Australia A series that is to run concurrent to the World Cup and Ashes to play a key role in selecting the squad.