Cricket: ICC warns HotSpot inventor against accusing players of cheating system

The International Cricket Council has warned HotSpot inventor Warren Brennan against alleging players were trying to cheat the Decision Review System technology.

Brennan made senior ICC representative Geoff Allardice aware in a meeting last week that he had conducted research to support his theory that tape on bats was interfering with the infra-red cameras of HotSpot.

Brennan has made no public comment.

However, on the final day of the Old Trafford test, Brennan tweeted to retired England captain and Sky commentator Michael Vaughan: "Michael, it's time you investigate why players are using fibreglass tape on the edges of their bats."

The ICC say it's too early to say whether it's worth considering changes to laws, which state it's legal to have non solids such as tape on the bat to protect and strengthen the blade.

The Nine Network reported on Thursday that Brennan said the concern came when two layers of tape were applied to the bat.

Allardice said the ICC has no evidence to suggest that players were attempting to cheat.

However, he indicated they would investigate the claims that coatings, stickers and tape on bats could help avoid detection on HotSpot.

Allardice said he had advised Brennan not to imply Australian and England players were trying to cheat.

"I think we did warn him that if he made a statement along those lines, if the inference was that the players were trying to cheat the HotSpot system, he would need some strong evidence to support that," Allardice said.

"Players have had coatings on bats, and manufacturers' stickers on bats, and reinforcing tape on bats for forever and a day."

It's been a highly controversial series, where the HotSpot technology has failed to pick up a number of nicks.

Curtain University in Perth have also conducted research into the thermal imaging process, concluding that silicone tape does have the capability of disguising edges on HotSpot.

Dr Masood Khan said the plastic-based tape can alter how small nicks show up on the infra-red imaging process.

- AAP