Boards to choose balls

Home boards will be free to continue choosing the ball to be used in test cricket despite a recent push for ball uniformity in the game’s traditional format. The Marylebone Cricket Club’s world cricket committee earlier this month called for the international governing body to introduce a standardised ball for the World Test Championship, which starts in August with the Ashes. The philosophy behind the initiative was to help create a ‘‘more equal playing field’’. It’s understood the MCC’s idea will not be approved by the ICC which will be a relief to manufacturer Kookaburra.