Channel Nine removes infrared Hot Spot tool from 'return Ashes' series

The controversial Decision Review System's (DRS) infrared camera technology, which had caused a furore in the summer Ashes with its failure to detect nicks, has reportedly been axed from the upcoming winter Ashes series.

The development leaves the ball-tracking component, Eagle Eye, audio evidence picked up by stump microphones and slow-motion replays as the remaining tools at the disposal of the third official in the Ashes.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Hot Spot's Australian inventor Warren Brennan confirmed that the decision-review device, which uses heat readings to analyse whether there has been contact between the ball and the bat and pads, has been axed by Cricket Australia's (CA) official broadcaster Channel Nine.

Stating that the decision is final as far as he is concerned, Brennan said that Channel Nine has got a deal with CA which cost a lot of money, adding that he believes that the Hot Spot technology had been axed from the five-Test series over some restructuring of costs.

The report mentioned that Nine had alleged in the lead-up to the fourth Ashes Test in Durham that players were using silicon coating to limit the effectiveness of Hot Spot by hiding nicks, which were vehemently denied.

However, Brennan stated that he feels that the furore surrounding Hot Spot and claims of batsmen deliberately using tape on bats to trick it had probably played a part in the decision to cut it for the Ashes.