England star denies tampering with bat during the third Test

England batsman Kevin Pietersen on Wednesday angrily denied reports he was one player in the Ashes series using silicone tape on his bat to avoid nicks being detected by Hot Spot technology.

The allegations were made by Australia's Channel Nine television station, but Pietersen said he would be "stupid" to try to cheat the system while Australia captain Michael Clarke denied any knowledge of such practice.