While most brass pens are heavily lacquered to preserve their lustre, the Hatch is finished with just a thin coat intended to wear away quickly, leaving the hygienic surface exposed.

WSJ: To Contagions, This Pen Is Deadlier Than the Sword

But an exceptionally dry surface started to show signs of wear after just a couple of overs, courtesy of Peter Siddle's bustling footmarks, and by lunch repairs usually made much later in a Test match were being carried out by the ground staff.

BBC: England struggle in deciding Test