MCC and Durham to play season's opener with pink balls in Abu Dhabi

The traditional opener to the season, which is normally played at Lord's in the rain and cold of early April, will take on a brash new look next season when the MCC meet the champion county, Durham, in a four-day game played in Abu Dhabi under floodlights with pink balls.

The experiment was confirmed this week at an MCC committee meeting and according to the MCC's head of cricket, John Stephenson, it will be another step towards floodlit Test cricket. "We've been asking cricket authorities around the world to help us trial the pink ball under floodlights," he said.

"If this match is a success, it could help to reinvigorate Test cricket. We have an opportunity to play our part for the good of the game and we're determined to grasp it."

Geoff Cook, Durham's head coach, spoke about the need to protect the sport's integrity when he refused to use a pink ball for a championship dead rubber against Worcestershire at the end of last season. But the prospect of warm temperatures in Abu Dhabi for a match that begins on 29 March seems to have persuaded him to suppress his misgivings.

He said Durham were "honoured to have the opportunity to take part in this historic and innovative match", and added: "The game of cricket is moving forward and [this] is an experience that the players will be really looking forward to.''

The MCC recently signed a three-year partnership with Abu Dhabi CC to share facilities at the Zayed Stadium and promote cricket in the region. But it is the desire to advance research into pink balls, which would allow Tests to be played at night in traditional white clothing, that is at the heart of the move. Indian Premier League franchises received a presentation from the MCC last month and are said to be enthusiastic about using pink balls in at least some of their games next season.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has made two changes to next season's county championship regulations, in an attempt to reduce the number of draws on lifeless pitches. Despite a reasonably settled summer this year, more than half of championship matches were drawn. Next season, the use of a heavy roller will be banned after the start of a match and 16 points will be awarded for a win and three for a draw, compared with a 14-4 split last season.