Sydney, Sept. 5: Australia’s one-day side on Tuesday dumped the canary yellow uniform it has sported for the past three decades in favour of a dark green and unveiled a campaign to fire up home fans for the Ashes series.

Captain Ricky Ponting said the new-look uniform, made from lightweight high-tech material, took its inspiration from the historic "baggy green" cloth cap worn by Australia’s Test players.

Ponting said the Australian players provided the uniform’s manufacturer with input into what they needed, particularly its collarless shirt.

"It feels great. It’s very light-weight. In the conditions we play in around the world it’s important that you have the right technology and materials in your shirt," Ponting said.

"The guys won’t have to be flicking their collars right up through the game.

"The zip at the front will enable the collar to stay up and keep the sun off the back of our necks."

The uniform, which will make its debut in the one-day international between England and Australia in Melbourne on January 17, may also be more sartorially acceptable to Australian fans than the vivid yellow version that has been used since the 1970s. It is an important factor for Cricket Australia executives so fearful their grounds will be swamped by England’s "Barmy Army" that they launched a campaign this week urging Australians to wear their national colours at the series.

Cricket Australia marketing spokesman Adam Vincenzini said the "go off in green and gold" campaign was launched to counter the influence of England fans .

"As an organisation the last thing we want to see is our stadiums taken over by the red-and-white of the Barmy Army," Vincenzini told Cricket Australia’s official website.