Ashes 2013: Bat tampering claims hit DRS

The Channel Nine report had suggested Richardson was to investigate attempts to cheat the effectiveness of Hotspot,which uses infrared cameras to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman,with any contact supposed to show up as a bright spot on the image.

Cricket Australia last week requested an explanation from the ICC over the dismissal of Usman Khawaja during the third test at Old Trafford. The batsman was given out caught despite a review of the television pictures and Hotspot which showed no convincing evidence of a nick off the bat.

PIETERSEN FURY

Later in the same match,England batsman Kevin Pietersen was also given out,caught behind,but again the Hotspot failed to pick anything up. The outspoken batsman was angered at being linked to the use of silicone and sent out a series of angry tweets.

“Horrible journalism yet again! My name brought up in hotspot crisis suggesting I use silicon(e) to prevent nicks showing! Such hurtful lies,” Pietersen wrote. “I am never afraid of getting out! If I nick it,I’ll walk.. To suggest I cheat by covering my bat with silicon(e) infuriates me,” he added.

“How stupid would I be to try & hide a nick when it could save me on an LBW appeal,like in 1st innings where hotspot showed I nicked it.”

Australian all-rounder Steve Smith also denied the allegations,telling a news conference that while batsmen used tape to help make their bat last longer,that did not extend to the use of silicone.

“It’s in the spirit of the game not to do that sort of thing,we haven’t discussed anything about trying to cheat the system at all,” he said ahead of Friday’s fourth test at Chester-le-Street.

Australia captain Michael Clarke dismissed the allegations as “quite funny.’’ “I can tell you there is not one person in the Australian change-rooms who is a cheat,’’ Clarke was quoted as saying by Australian media. “That’s not the way we play cricket. I know no one is going to the extreme of saying ‘put this on your bat because it will help you beat Hot Spot’.

“I didn’t know there was such a thing you could do to hide nicking the ball on Hot Spot. I wouldn’t think it would make any difference. I’ve never heard of anyone doing it.’’

Hotspot’s Australian inventor,Warren Brennan,was reported in the British media to be preparing a statement on the technology for release on Wednesday.

A tweet posted on Tuesday from an unverified Twitter account under his name and entitled @HotSpotInventor read: “We will make a statement tomorrow about hotspot in regard to the remainder of the Ashes series.”

Another,in reply to former England captain and media pundit Michael Vaughan posted on Aug. 5 read: “Michael,its time you investigate why players are using fibreglass tape on the edges of their bats.”

England coach Andy Flower also called for improvements in the DRS system after the third test was drawn,ensuring the hosts,who won the first two tests,would retain the Ashes.

Sydney: Former Australia captain Allan Border today cranked up the pressure on England ahead of the fourth Ashes Test,saying Alastair Cook’s team appeared vulnerable and worried. The tourists’ hopes of regaining the urn were washed away by a rain-affected third Test draw at Old Trafford on Monday. But after losing the first two Tests,Australia’s performance at Manchester was much better with their batting finally firing,in contrast to England’s.

“What a difference two weeks can make. In the space of 14 days,my perception and gut-feel about this Australian side has changed,” said Border,who captained the side 93 times. “England has retained the Ashes and well done to them,but the performance of this largely inexperienced Australian team has filled me with confidence.”

Border,who played 156 Tests scoring 11,174 runs,said it looked like Australia had “drawn their own line in the sand”

at Old Trafford,in much the same way Australia did during the 1986-87 series. (AFP)