World Indoor Bowls Championships

I happened to catch the rather exciting finish to yesterday's final, having not seen this indoor version on television for several years.

Although I'm always impressed by the skill of these players, I must admit to being rather surprised by their attire.

These fellows in their shorts and gaudy (sponsored?) sports shirts, with trainers as well, seemed to be dressed as teenage boys. All they needed was the obligatory baseball cap (reversed) to complete their dreadful outfits.

When did this change occur? From what I saw of the referee, he was in long trousers, as one might expect, but surely these players don't really need to be wearing shorts, do they? It's not as though they are running at top speed, just gently bending.

Call me old-fashioned, I prefer to say traditionalist, and I do understand that change is inevitable throughout the entire universe, but does it have to be something like this, which makes grown professionals appear as though they have just wandered indoors from doing a bit of gardening?