Ponting's bat to be reviewed by MCC

Contrary to earlier reports, Ricky Ponting's bat - which is reinforced by a thin carbon graphite strip running down the spine - has not yet received approval from the International Cricket Council. Earlier this week, MCC kicked up a minor storm by suggesting that the modification gives Ponting an unfair advantage, although this was dismissed in the Australian media as an attempt to destabilise the team in the run-up to this summer's Ashes.

Peter Young, a spokesman for Cricket Australia, confirmed that the Australian board had no objections, but an ICC spokesman told Cricinfo that the matter had been referred back to the MCC who, in their capacity as the guardian of the laws of cricket, would determine whether the bat conforms to the regulations.

"The bat is permitted pending a decision from MCC," added the spokesman, who explained that it is the ICC who decides on the playing conditions of cricket, and so had the power to override the laws if necessary. The whole issue will be examined in greater detail by the ICC Cricket Committee at their meeting in Dubai in May.

In a later press release, the ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed, confirmed that the issue of bat reinforcement was of growing significance. "The ICC is increasingly concerned with issues surrounding the way in which bats are manufactured and `enhanced'," said Speed. "During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 there were a number of oversized bats detected and manufacturers were put on notice that it was expected that they would produce bats that comply with the laws at all times.

"One of the concerns we currently have is with the practice of `corking' bats. We are getting consistent reports of bats being corked and that is something that we will be investigating further. One of the potential implications that arises if corking is taking place is that we may need to be able to be able to see the blade clearly from all angles to see if it has been tampered with."

Sam Halvorsen, Ponting's manager, termed the whole issue as "absolute nonsense", while Rob Elliot, the managing director of Kookaburra, said that Ponting's bat met all the criteria. "In cricket the balance between bat and ball is critical," Elliot said. "Golf and tennis have lost their way with the new technological advances in clubs and racquets. We understand more than anyone how important the fundamental elements of bat and ball are in cricket."

Ponting began using the bat in late December last year and cracked a fantastic double- century against Pakistan in the New Year's Test in Sydney. He carried on the momentum with a hundred in the tsunami-relief game before tearing the New Zealand attack to shreds in the recent series.