First pink ball trial at Lord's

Pink balls will be trialled in a match at Lord's for the first time on Monday April 21 when MCC and Scotland test Kookaburra and Dukes balls in a 50-overs match. A Kookaburra ball has already been used four months ago in Australia with favourable reports, albeit in a Twenty20, but this will be the first time the Dukes ball has been trialled.

It is the first time either manufacturer's ball has been tested throughout 50 overs, and there will be a different one per innings. The captain who wins the toss will have the choice of using a Kookaburra or Dukes.

Pink balls are being trialled following development in London over the winter, with the MCC thinking of introducing them in county one-dayers next year with a long-term view for one-day internationals. The logic is that a pink ball may be seen more easily, and a fraction earlier, by a batsman than a white one, and the initial trial would seem to have shown that.

The very first trial, in January was rated favourably when Queensland and Western Australia trialled it in a women's exhibition Twenty20 match at the Gabba. The players reported the pink ball, a Kookaburra, held together well. Unlike the white ball, it kept its colour throughout although it was only a Twenty20 and not a longer match. The pink ball was reputedly harder too; white balls tend to go quite soft easily.

Also at stake is whether the balls keep their colour, and again this seems to have been the case for the 20-over burst. One potential problem, however, is that the seam does not show up so well.

Monday's trial at Lord's in the full 50-over version could give further clues as to the future.

MCC Darren Bicknell, Chris Hollins, David Ward, Will House, Alan Duncan, John Stephenson (capt), Josh Knappett (wk), Matt Dennington, James Hamblin, Min Patel, Jon Wightman