London, Dec 12 (IANS) The traditional opener of the English county season will have a brand new look as Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) will face county champions Durham in a four-day game in Abu Dhabi instead of the Lord's and will be played under lights with pink balls.

The season opener used to be played at Lord's in the cold and rain of April but the decision to shift the venue to the King Zayed Stadium was taken by the MCC cricket committee this week.

MCC's head of cricket John Stephenson said that the step was taken to make floodlit Test cricket a reality.

"We've been asking cricket authorities around the world to help us trial the pink ball under floodlights. 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," The Guardian quoted Stephenson as saying.

Geoff Cook, Durham's head coach, has always adovcated against using a pink ball. Last season, during the championship dead rubber against Worcestershire, Cook refused to use a pink ball.

But he has welcomed MCC's decison, saying that prospects of warm temperatures in Abu Dhabi for a match that begins March 29 seems to have persuaded him to suppress his misgivings.

"We are honoured to have the opportunity to take part in this historic and innovative match. The game of cricket is moving forward and (this) is an experience that the players will be really looking forward to," he said.

The MCC recently signed a three-year partnership with the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council to share facilities at the Zayed Stadium and promote the game in the region. But it is

MCC's desire to make pink balls and day-night Test matches a success that is being seen as the main reason behind this move.

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 (ECB) has also made some changes in the points system in an attempt to reduce the number of draws on lifeless pitches. The use of heavy rollers have been banned once the match starts and 16 points will be awarded for a win and three for a draw instead of 14-4 split last season.