The advent of T20, the IPL and the publicity monster that is Lalit Modi has prompted a seismic shift with regards to the traditional curtain raiser to the English domestic season - the match between the county champions and the MCC.
Instead of performing to a genteel and sparse crowd at a freezing cold Lord's where the cricket normally takes a backseat to the frequent breaks for rain and bad light, this year's game is taking place in Abu Dhabi.
And the revolution doesn't stop there. The game will also be used an an experiment on the merits of having first-class (read test match) cricket at night, so also involves a pink ball and floodlights.
This all seems rather strange. Along with Australia, England is the one country that doesn't have a problem in filling grounds for test matches with huge public interest and small(ish) grounds ensuring that for the most part, attendances are high. The weather in England would also seem to limit opportunity for playing test cricket at night.
So it would seem therefore that MCC and Durham will be trialling the pink ball and floodlights for the benefit of other test playing nations. Like India for example.
It's all rather novel, but I doubt that Mr Modi is unduly worried and the fact that the game clashes with the IPL surely signals a more pressing issue, which is the need to schedule a window for the IPL. This would at least ensure that the best players can play in the IPL to the minimum detriment of international and even other domestic cricket.
As for pink balls, I wonder what Kevin Pietersen will make it of it all after suggesting the other week that test cricket wasn't for girls. Will the pink balls be manly enough for him?
Comments