Australian captain Michael Clarke has strongly denied his players have been using silicone-based tape on their bats to avoid detection by HotSpot technology.

Clarke says it’s normal for players to protect their bats with things like fibreglass facing, but that it’s nothing new and he’s been doing it since he was 12 years old.

The Australian captain says he hasn’t witnessed anything untoward going on with England players either, after a report on the Nine Network said the ICC was investigating players from both teams on the issue.

The Ashes series has been marred by a number of controversial DRS decisions, mostly involving HotSpot and its failure to show up edges.

The inventor of HotSpot has admitted the technology can struggle to pick up edges from fast bowling, and during the Ashes the technology has appeared as inconsistent as ever.

Kevin Pietersen was given out in the second innings of the third Test at Old Trafford despite no nick showing up on HotSpot, while David Warner earned a reprieve in one of his innings after no evidence was shown he’d edged it, despite admitting later he had hit the ball.

Clarke said there was no chance any Australian player has been trying to cheat the technology.

“I find the accusation quite funny. 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,” he said.

“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 HotSpot.”

If batsmen are trying to cover up edges, the theory appears flawed, given it could just as easily contribute to incorrect lbw dismissals where the ball has been hit first.

Clarke said he could guarantee that his bat manufacturer doesn’t alter bats.

The 32-year-old said all batsmen used coverings on their bats but he’s never heard of anything to suggest there’s a way of lessening the impact of HotSpot.

“I’ve used fibreglass facing on my bats since I got my first bat from Slazenger when I was 12,” he said.

“I used a fibreglass face on the bat because we couldn’t afford two or three or five or 10 cricket bats.

“Because modern bats are pressed and are soft, you put a cover on it to protect the bat and make it last longer.

“A lot of players use that since I’ve been playing cricket.

“I didn’t know there was such a thing you could do to hide nicking the ball on HotSpot. I wouldn’t think it would make any difference. I’ve never heard of anyone doing it.”