Ashes 2013: Alastair Cook says bat tape reports are 'rubbish'

England captain Alastair Cook says suggestions that his players use silicone tape on their bats to avoid edges being detected by Hot Spot are "a whole load of rubbish".

Australia's Channel Nine television accused England batsman Kevin Pietersen of the practice during the Ashes.

Pietersen said the claims are "hurtful lies", while the England and Wales Cricket Board has asked for an apology.

Cook said: "The story is a load of rubbish."

The Ashes series against Australia has featured several controversies with the decision review system, which uses Hot Spot to help determine whether the ball has hit the bat.

Cook's comments came as International Cricket Council general manager Geoff Allardice admitted DRS had not "performed as effectively during the past three Tests as it has in other series".

Allardice met with both teams ahead of the fourth Test at Durham, which starts on Friday, to discuss the system and confirmed Hot Spot will continue to be used in the final two Tests.

Cook revealed England players do stick tape on their bats but not with the intention of trying to fool DRS.

He said: "Fibreglass tape on their bats… that's been going on for years. That's just to protect the bat to make it last longer.

"I think we have to rubbish that whole story, because it is rubbish."

Allardice revealed the ICC conducted a trial at the drawn third Test aimed at improving the accuracy and speed of DRS decisions.

"Technology is evolving," he said. "During the Old Trafford Test we conducted a trial where a TV umpire accessed replays using a multi-channel monitor system with its own operator and recording device.

"The aim was to get more replay angles to the umpire faster, so he will be able to make more accurate decisions and minimise delays to the game.

"The feedback from this trial has been very positive, and we now need to consider how this technology could be most effectively used as part of the DRS system."

Cook admits the England players are bemused at the way Hot Spot has worked during the Ashes.

"That's what we've found really strange - some clear nicks that haven't shown up on Hot Spot," he added.

"We just can't quite work out why it's happening. But like all these things, there are always big evolutions and hopefully the technology can get it right.

"We're just trying to get more decisions right so the umpires have less impact on the game and you're talking about hundreds and 'five-fors' rather than decisions made by the umpire or the third umpire."

England retained the Ashes in 14 days courtesy of a rain-affected draw at Old Trafford. They lead 2-0 in the five-Test series.

But Cook, 28, said: "We start from scratch. We keep saying what a good side Australia are and Old Trafford showed that.

"We want to go on and win the series. The way the lads are, the way we are as a team and the way (team director) Andy Flower operates, there will be no let-up of the standards we set ourselves."