MCC says pink-ball trial in Tests requires bilateral agreement between teams

The ICC's new playing conditions allow a pink-ball trial in day-time Tests from October 1. Fraser Stewart, the Head of Cricket at Marylebone Cricket Club, clarified that the trial is a playing condition rather than a law of cricket.

Stewart said bilateral series teams must agree among themselves to use a pink ball. He rejected suggestions that teams could start with a red ball and switch to pink later in the match.

Stewart also addressed time-wasting penalties. He said the ICC has decided to enforce existing laws more strictly, with umpires able to award five penalty runs for repeated time-wasting during a match.