Calcutta: Former England captain Tony Lewis is ill, but the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is going ahead with the first meeting of its very high-profile World Cricket Committee, at Lord’s on Monday.

The proceedings, however, will now be conducted by outgoing secretary Roger Knight.

“The chairman (Lewis) opted out on account of illness and, so, Mr Knight has had to step in. There’s no other change,” MCC spokesperson Laura Garland told The Telegraph.

Speaking on Saturday evening, she added: “Owing to the logistics involved, we haven’t fixed the next meeting. In fact, the Committee is going to take a decision (on Monday). Hopefully, the chairman won’t have to miss that?”

Garland informed that the 15-member Committee will, among other things, consider approving “research” on why the white ball gets discoloured so quickly. Also, whether there’s a colour-alternative for ODIs.

As reported in these columns, Team India captain Rahul Dravid is the only one on the Committee (which includes Barry Richards, Mike Brearley, Courtney Walsh and Steve Waugh) currently doing international duty.

He has reached London.

The MCC, it may be noted, continues to hold the copyright for the laws. It has been in existence from 1787.