Our reporters put the infamous Jabulani World Cup ball to the test

First it was the goalkeepers. Then Fabio Capello called it "the worst ball ever". The Jabulani has been blamed for low scores and lacklustre games at this World Cup, but do our over-paid, under-performing stars have a point? The Standard decided to put the Jabulani to the test.

Designed by a team of engineers at Loughborough university, Adidas claim the Jabulani is the most "perfectly spherical" ball ever made. Lighter, faster and more aerodynamic, the promotional bumf claims special "aerogrooves" give the ball a more stable and truer flight.

But just like Wayne Rooney, my Sunday league team-mates were baffled by all the complicated science talk. They just wanted to know how far they could thump it and would it swerve?

The first thing you notice is how light the Jabulani is, similar to the penny floaters you used for a kick-about in the street.

Even the minnows of Little Ribston, who play in the Top Corner Brixton Premiership, were able to make the ball bend and swerve like a young David Beckham in his pomp.

My team-mates remarked on how much easier it is to generate power and movement with the Jabulani. At first it kept ballooning over the bar, but with a little practice and a defter touch, the ball is surprisingly good for long-range shots and free-kicks, precisely because of its unpredictability.

When you kick the Jabulani it goes on and on, although cutting across it with short powerful "punches" creates the illusive swerve.

While the pros seem to be making a hash of scoring with the new ball, after about five minutes our collection of journalists, IT consultants and office johnnies had cracked it and were banging in the goals.

Mr Capello, we're ready.