London, November 16:

Women’s cricket is again at the forefront of innovation with the announcement that the first trial match for the new pink balls will be a state game in January.

Women’s cricket paved the way for overarm bowling; it introduced the World Cup, and held the first international Twenty20 and now it is to help in important test situations.

The first match will be between Queensland and Western Australia on January 10, a curtain-raiser for the men’s Twenty20 between Queensland and Tasmania at Gabba.

The MCC is considering introducing fluorescent pink balls to county one-day cricket if trials are successful. The new balls, made by Kookaburra, will also be tested at Lord’s indoor school this winter and will be used in university and 2nd XI matches next year. If scientists at Imperial College, London, can get the balls to keep their colour, they could be used in one-day county cricket next year and even eventually in one-day internationals.