Retro Yakking

In England, it’s not uncommon for cricketers to wear light enhancing shades due to the dull climate and relatively poor visibility, and we’ve seen our fair share of them over the course of this competition.

To be fair, the weather has been slightly better than expected, with only a couple of games affected by Duckworth-Lewis  (not to be confused with Duckworth-Lewis the band), so many of the players have also been wearing shades for the purpose they were made for.

Both types of shades were out in force this week, with a mixture of clement and inclement weather gracing England for the group and Super Eight stages of the competition.

Perhaps the funkiest shades of them all were worn by Chris Gayle, the ever-cool Jamaican captain of the West Indies. Most likely bought from Camden market for 99p, and probably broke the moment he tried to take them off.

If you think that was cool, though, check out Yusuf Pathan, seen here wearing his sunglasses whilst bowling. This type of thing could only be carried off by a spinner, as a paceman bowling with shades just doesn’t look right at all.

South Africa’s Graeme Smith plumped for a very similar model to Yusuf’s, but is automatically cooler in this picture because he’s strutting his funky stuff to Michael Jackson, sha’mone!

Run to the bus stop, don’t stop ’til you get enough… — Misheard lyrics to Michael Jackson song

Dwayne Bravo sported some yellow and white shades, possibly light enhancing, but probably not as they couldn’t prevent him from misfielding while he was wearing them.

Wicket keepers in shades are always cool. Mark Boucher is even cooler because he doesn’t need to wear a helmet whilst standing up to a medium pacer. Now is that confidence or what?

Check out this bandanna-shades combo sported by a member of New Zealand’s Beige Brigade. These days, the Black Caps usually play in, erm, black, though beige will never go out of fashion wherever the eighties live on.

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