Lancashire open their summer in the CricInfo Championship at Taunton today, with names and numbers on the backs of their shirts. They have been given permission to do so from the ECB after the move was tried successfully on the club's pre-season tour to South Africa.

All counties have names and numbers on the back of their National League shirts, but this is a break with tradition in the Championship designed, according to Old Trafford cricket secretary Dave Edmundson, to make cricket more user friendly.

"The new kit has already been a success," said Edmundson. "When the players are wearing hats in the heat of the sun it is very difficult for even an avid fan to identify who's who, never mind someone new to the game." If the move is successful, other counties may follow suit.

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