Black Caps should be cool under fire

When Scott Styris was diving around scraping his knees playing backyard cricket he never envisaged he would one day end up kitted out like this.

The New Zealand limited overs specialist yesterday modelled the Black Caps new look for the 2008-09 summer - a wardrobe that bears little resemblance to its one-day international predecessors, except of course for the predominantly black playing strip.

The outer layer - there are three, including a base layer and polar fleece style sleeveless jersey for those chilly sessions in the field - also has silver panels.

Two years of research and development has been devoted to playing gear designed to pull perspiration from the body so it can evaporate.

The lightweight "baselayer" shirts are designed to control player temperature and prevent muscle fatigue.

Three sensory patches on the cuff and neck change colour - grey dots go red when it's cold; red dots change to orange when temperatures rise, warning players to either rug up or rehydrate.

Given black traditionally attracts heat, keeping players comfortable was a priority.

The current squad will also be issued with three pairs of pants - specifically for bowling, batting and fielding.

Bowlers on the tour of England in May trialled the trousers which feature a microfibre panel to help polish the ball and enable it to swing. There is also a built in chamois towel for keeping hands dry.

The fielding pants also feature a panel to reduce friction burns and jarring when fielding while the batting pants have ventilation areas at the back, groin and behind the knee to keep players cool when padded up.

Traditionalists may baulk but it is the cable knit jumper that has been well and truly put out to pasture.

It has been superseded by a lightweight sleeveless jersey made of bonded microfibre fleece.

Asked if he had ever expected the gear to be so technically advanced, Styris offered a bemused: "No."

"It's good though. It's important to feel comfortable when you're out in the middle. We saw (on the tour of England) Hampshire and Yorkshire in their gear so we knew what we were in for.

"It's a slim fit so the boys might have to get to the gym a bit more."

Styris said Bangladesh would be an ideal testing ground for the new breathable fabrics -- the team leave tomorrow for the sub-continent for three ODIs and two tests.

"Black attracts the sun so anything you can do to make sure you haven't got a wet back at the end of your (bowling) spell has to be good."

The test side will be equipped with the same Canterbury of New Zealand wardrobe, in cream.

Meanwhile, the shirts are emblazoned with a new sponsor, after NZC unveiled a multi-million dollar three-year sponsorship deal with Dubai-based real estate developer Dheeraj and East Coast (DEC).

DEC joins the National Bank as NZC's marquee sponsors.

What do you think of the new Black Caps uniforms?

-NZPA