Pink cricket balls to make debut at Lords on Monday

London, Apr 19 : A 50-over match between MCC XI and Scotland XI will be played with a pink ball on a trial basis, and if it proves a success, the balls may eventually be used in international one-day matches.

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

A Duke pink 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, reported the Dawn.

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

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

ANI