Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen has reportedly denied using silicon tape on his bat to avoid edges being detected by the Decision Review System (DRS) technology in the Ashes, and has slammed the accusations as 'hurtful lies'.
According to the Mirror, Pietersen's name was linked to a rumoured ICC investigation into the possibility that players have been using some kind of silicon or fibreglass tape to hoodwink the Hot Spot TV replays.
The report further said that the rumours suggested that the game's governing body would be looking into the use of tape on cricket bats when their general manager Geoff Allardice arrives for a meeting in Durham on Thursday.
Angry at the accusations of Hot Spot skullduggery, Pietersen refuted them and tweeted that it is hurtful that his name has been brought up in the crisis suggesting that he uses silicon to prevent nicks from showing.
Stating that he is not afraid of getting out, Pietersen further tweeted that if he nicks a ball, then he will walk out, adding that allegations that he has cheated by covering his bat with silicon has infuriated him.
Pietersen also said that it would be extremely foolish on his part to try and hide a nick when it could save him on an LBW appeal like during the first innings at Old Trafford where Hot Spot showed that he had nicked the ball.
The ICC has also denied the accusations, with chief executive David Richardson saying that Allardice would be meeting with both teams and umpires to see how they can best use the DRS and the available technology going forward in the next two Test matches, adding that the meeting has nothing to do with the players as the rumours suggested.
