FORMER Hampshire cricketer Kevin Pietersen today angrily responded to what he described as ''horrible lies'' linking him and other players with attempts to hoodwink Hot Spot by applying silicon tape to their bats.

After a succession of Decision Review System (DRS) controversies in the ongoing Ashes series, reports surfaced overnight of an alleged new practice among players designed to defeat the thermal imaging technology which demonstrates bat-on-ball contact.

Pietersen is one of several players to have been affected by DRS incidents this summer, given out caught-behind on the final day as England retained the Ashes at Emirates Old Trafford even though Hot Spot indicated he had not hit the ball.

This morning, responding to the stories, he tweeted: ''Horrible journalism yet again!

''My name brought up in hotspot crisis, suggesting I use silicon to prevent nicks showing! Such hurtful lies.''

Pietersen went on to deny being a cheat, adding: ''I am never afraid of getting out! If I nick it, I'll walk.. To suggest I cheat by covering my bat with silicon infuriates me..''

Australia captain Michael Clarke also believes there is no basis for the allegations.

''I find the accusation quite funny,'' he said in quotes carried by the Australian media.

''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.

''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'.

''I didn't know there was such a thing you could do to hide nicking the ball on Hot Spot.

''I wouldn't think it would make any difference. I've never heard of anyone doing it.''

A third tweet in under 20 minutes demonstrated Pietersen's annoyance.

''How stupid would I be to try and hide a nick when it could save me on an LBW appeal - like in 1st innings where hotspot showed I nicked it..,'' he asked his followers.

Players from both sides, meanwhile, are set to meet the International Cricket Council's director of operations Geoff Allardice before the fourth Investec Test in Durham, which starts on Friday.

The ICC decided to fly the Australian out to speak to the teams and their coaches, in response to this summer's concern over the implementation of DRS. An ICC spokesman said: ''Geoff Allardice, ICC's General Manager - Cricket, will be arriving in Durham today and will be meeting the two teams at some stage tomorrow to address their concerns on the DRS and to also assure them that the ICC is doing everything within its powers and resources to improve the performance of the DRS.''

The ICC has declined to comment as yet about the use, or otherwise, of silicon tape on bats.