MCC questions Ponting's bat

MCC officials have asked the ICC to investigate Ricky Ponting's revolutionary bat amid concerns that it is giving the Australian captain an unfair advantage. Ponting's Kookaburra bat is strengthened by a thin carbon graphite strip and MCC fear this gives him extra power and may damage the ball.

MCC is also unhappy with the bright fluorescent green Kookaburra stickers on the bat, called the Kahuna, which they feel goes against the spirit of the game's laws. MCC has expressed its concerns to the ICC, which will discuss the matter as part of an overall review of bats at a meeting in Dubai next month.

An ICC spokesman confirmed to The Daily Telegraph, in Sydney, that the bat was up for review. "At present there is an MCC process ongoing on this matter and, pending the completion of this process, the player is permitted to use the bat in question,"

Rob Elliot, the managing director of Kookaburra, said it was "rubbish" to suggest the graphite provided extra power or would damage the ball. He said the MCC wanted to ban the bat and felt it could be a part of MCC's attempt to try to destabilise Australia's Ashes campaign.

"The carbon reinforces the strength of the blade but it also protects the blade," Elliot said. "We designed the bat with the use of the carbon reinforcement to prolong the life of the bat because the player wants to use the bat for as long as possible. Providing it doesn't affect the wear and tear on the cricket ball, should they be worried? They are more worried about where this may end up than where it is now."

The stickers on the back of Ponting's bat are not breaking any laws, as long as 50% of the bat is free from advertising, although a general review of the colour of bat stickers is on the agenda for the ICC.