Armidale will play a hand in Australian international cricketers looking their best in coming months as the one-day side starts its West Indies tour.
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It has emerged the official dress tailor to the Australian cricket team, M.J Bale, has chosen Armidale as its location to help produce the official suits players wear in transit, at functions and at other events during their off field commitments.
Last year, grass samples from the Sydney Cricket Ground were taken under the watchful eye of ground curator Tom Parker.
Those patches of grass were then carefully delivered to merino wool producer Bill Mitchell's farm in Armidale and regrown under Parker's instructions where a number of merino sheep grazed on that section of the former SCG turf.
From there, strands of the wool from several sheep were shorn and used to make the Australian cricketers tailor -made suits which they will wear in coming months. M.J. Bale founder, Matt Jensen told The Express the concept of bringing the grass to Armidale for the sheep to graze on was spawned by wanting to make the suits innovative and different in their design.
"We wanted to do something unique," he said.
"Something that would make the Australian cricket team and its players not only look good, but also feel good too.
"If these suits help the team physically, mentally or metaphorically feel like winners on their way to the West Indies, then it’s all been worth while."
It is expected Australian cricketers will wear the specific Armidale-made team suits after their West Indies tour.
