Hot Spot inventor calls on ICC to ban deceptive bat coverings

Kevin Pietersen was made to walk back despite Hot Spot not showing any signs of the ball nicking the bat

In the wake of the International Cricket Committee’s (ICC) claims of batsmen employing silicone tapes as ‘protective’ bat coverings to deceive the Hot Spot cameras from displaying a bright white spot, caused by contact between the bat and ball, the inventor of the Hot Spot technology has urged the ICC to ban all protective coatings.

DNA quoted a Guardian report, where Warren Brennan, who came up with the Hot Spot technology specially designed for cricket, opened up on reports of batsmen using protective coatings on bats, even though it covered only a minor part of the bat’s edge.

The report further mentioned that the two Ashes rivals- England and Australia- are contemplating suggestions for a change in the protocol, wherein the teams will not lose a review in case the umpire’s decision gets the better of their reviews.

Although the DRS has stirred up a lot of controversy in the ongoing Ashes series, the ICC has backed the system throughout and decided to stick with it until the closure of the five match series.

On the other hand, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has sought an official apology from Australia’s Channel Nine Network for accusing English batsman Kevin Pietersen of exploiting the use of silicone tapes to dodge edges being noticed by the Hot Spot cameras.