Pink ball makes Lord’s debut

Date released: 21 April 2008

Stephenson won the toss and picked the Kookabura ball Monday 21st April saw a pink cricket ball trialled in a match at Lord’s for the first time.

You can follow the match live, online with ball-by-ball commentary from lords.org.

MCC Head of Cricket, John Stephenson, captains the MCC side and, after winning the toss, opted to try out the new Kookaburra ball to its fullest with MCC in the field.

With new, black sightscreens part of the experiment to test the visibility of the pink ball players, spectators and officials were all keen to see how the new pink ball would affect play.

The umpires bring out the new ball, much to one Members' apparent surprise On a cloudy, overcast day at 'The Home of Cricket' it was a staggering start for MCC and the pink ball.

Two Scotland wickets fell very early, with the visitors teetering at 2/2 at one stage.

It was former Durham UCCE player, Jon Wightman doing the damage - making the most of the conditions and clearly enjoying using the new ball.

Captains' choice: Ryan Watson and Stephenson examine the new balls Any concerns spectators may have had about the new ball favouring the bowler too much were soon allayed, as the Scots settled in, recovering to post a competitive 253/7 from their 50 overs.

Former Nottinghamshire star Darren Bicknell was the mainstay of MCC's reply. The left-hander's century garnered most of the runs required by the Club - as MCC won by four wickets.

Speaking about the pink ball afterwards, Stephenson said: "The pink Kookaburra behaved like a white ball when I was bowling with it.

"After 50 overs the ball was still very visible. A bit of the pink dye had come off it, but all it had revealed was the white coating underneath, so we've made some progress already."

Pink ball in action

Scotland 253/7 (50 ov)

MCC skipper John Stephenson bowls with the new pink ball
Scots captain Ryan Watson watches the new ball onto his bat

Scotland's Neil McCallum can see the ball perfectly - as it removes his bails
BBC Sport presenter and sometimes MCC batsman Chris Hollins

MCC: 254/6 (48.3 ov)

MCC win by 4 wickets

Darren Bicknell anchored MCC's response - the left-hander made the most of the short boundary on the Grand Stand side

MCC's Will House swings and misses...

Did the pink ball help Colin Smith see the ball more clearly for this catch?
This fielder had no vision problems, securing this run-out

In the pink: Stephenson and century-maker Bicknell after MCC's win - the pink ball bearing-up well despite Bicknell's battering of it

The pink ball after the match compared to a used white ball - the pink ball has retained its colour well