Cricket clothing showing the after effects of "Greening"

Greening is a term used by cricket players to describe the after effects of leaving their kit in their bags between cricket seasons. Most items of clothing or footwear may be affected by the process which manifests itself by creating a fine coating of a light green mould fungus.

This mould is easily washed out although the smell is extremely difficult to eradicate. The most serious effect of greening, however, is the (often) violent responses it may induce in wives and girlfriends. To counteract this, cricketers will hide their "whites" until after the first game of the season has been played, during which, the afflicted player will do everything in his power to get his kit dirty and disguise any signs of greening. To observers, these actions appear to show great enthusiasm and effort.

Inevitably, come the last game of the season, full kit bags are thrown into the loft or garage and the process of greening begins again.