The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly investigating incidents of bat tampering designed to evade Hot Spot technology by players from both sides of the Ashes series.

Channel Nine News said on Wednesday night that the ICC was looking into claims that batsmen were taping the edges of their blades with silicon tape to fool the Hot Spot cameras.

Nine reported that ICC general manager of cricket operations Geoff Allardice is in Durham ahead of Friday's fourth Test at Chester-le-Street to investigate.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 1 minute 25 seconds 1 m 25 s Listen to Kevin Pietersen's dismissal on day five Download 669 KB

The probe is reportedly focusing on concerns about the caught-behind dismissal of Kevin Pietersen on day five of the third Test at Old Trafford.

But Nine said that Australian batsmen may also be using the tactic.

Pietersen was given out by umpire Tony Hill after edging Australian paceman Peter Siddle through to Brad Haddin behind the stumps before lunch on the final day.

Pietersen stood his ground and was adamant he did not hit the ball, opting for a review by the third umpire under the Decision Review System (DRS).

But third umpire Kumar Dharmasena let the original ruling stand, with Hot Spot not showing any evidence of an edge.

Snickometer, which is not a part of the third umpire's technological arsenal, showed a clear noise when the ball passed by the bat, which was a long way from Pietersen's pad.

Hot Spot is part of the DRS that uses infra-red imaging to determine whether the ball made contact with the bat based on heat signatures from friction on impact.

Not my guys, Clarke says

But Australian captain Michael Clarke has strongly denied his players have been trying to avoid detection by Hot Spot technology.

Clarke says it is normal for players to protect their bats with things like fibreglass facing, but that it is nothing new and he has been doing it since he was 12 years old.

The Australian captain says he has not witnessed anything untoward going on with England players either.

The inventor of Hot Spot has admitted the technology can struggle to pick up edges from fast bowling, and during the Ashes the technology has appeared as inconsistent as ever.

David Warner earned a reprieve in one of his innings after no evidence was shown he had edged it, despite admitting later he had hit the ball.

Clarke said there was no chance any Australian player has been trying to cheat the technology.

"I find the accusation quite funny. I can't talk for everybody but if it is the case we are talking about cheating, I can tell you there is not one person in the Australian change rooms who is a cheat," he said.

"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."

If batsmen are trying to cover up edges, the theory appears flawed, given it could just as easily contribute to incorrect lbw dismissals where the ball has been hit first.

Clarke said he could guarantee that his bat manufacturer does not alter bats.

The 32-year-old said all batsmen used coverings on their bats but he has never heard of anything to suggest there is a way of lessening the impact of Hot Spot.

"I've used fibreglass facing on my bats since I got my first bat from Slazenger when I was 12," he said.

"I used a fibreglass face on the bat because we couldn't afford two or three or five or 10 cricket bats.

"Because modern bats are pressed and are soft, you put a cover on it to protect the bat and make it last longer.

"A lot of players use that since I've been playing cricket.

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

Problem bigger than just the bats

Grandstand's Jim Maxwell has played down the reports, saying he does not believe bat tampering is the main issue.

"People used to put vellum down the side of their bat," he said.

"You can put all sorts of stuff ... you can put Vaseline on it.

"It might be against the spirit of the game but at the end of the day the technology is bad news... it doesn't work."

After day one of the Test, Cricket Australia said it had sought clarification from the ICC on the "incorrect" exit of Usman Khawaja after yet another controversial DRS verdict.

Khawaja was given out by on-field umpire Tony Hill having made just one to leave Australia 2 for 92 on the first day of the third Test at Old Trafford.

The decision, after the batsman was adjudged to have edged England off-spinner Graeme Swann to wicketkeeper Matt Prior, was endorsed by Dharmasena despite evidence which appeared to suggest it should have been reversed.

Following criticism of the verdict by Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and leg-spin great Shane Warne, Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said he was seeking an explanation from the ICC.

"CA remains a strong supporter of DRS and believes it is important that cricket continues to improve and build confidence in the DRS," he said at the time.

"We understand and accept that from time to time mistakes can be made. However, in this instance, on behalf of the player, the team and all cricket fans, we feel duty bound to seek further explanation as to how this decision was arrived at."

ABC/AAP