April 19, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 12, 1429

LONDON, April 18: A pink cricket ball will be trialled for the first time in a match in England when an MCC XI take on Scotland in a 50-over match here at Lord’s on Monday.

A Dukes ball will be used for one innings and a Kookaburra for the other. If trials of ball prove it is more durable than white one used in one-day cricket then it could be introduced in the game during 2009.

As with the matches involving white balls, there will be black sightscreens and the players will wear coloured clothing.

White balls can be notoriously difficult for fielders and batsmen to see in certain light conditions. Paint tends to flake off white balls too quickly, leading to a mandatory change after 35 overs in One-day Internationals.

If trials are a success, pink ball could be used from 2009 in Twenty20 cricket, and then in ODIs.

The first trial, at a women’s match in Brisbane in January between Queensland and Western Australia, was deemed to be a success.—Agencies