Cricket: Ponting free to use high-tech bat, says ICC

The makers of Ricky Ponting's controversial carbon-graphite-reinforced bat have supported the call for an expert panel to review the laws and regulations regarding the manufacture of cricket bats.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday said Australia's captain could continue to use his Kookaburra Kahuna-brand bat while it carried out further research into the issue.

New Zealand's Nathan Astle uses a similar bat by the same maker.

The ICC committee recommended an expert panel, headed by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, be formed to work with the games' law makers -- the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) -- and manufacturers on bat design.

Kookaburra managing director Rob Elliott said the company looked forward to working with the committee to help them "understand and resolve" their issues of concern.

"I think it's a very important issue that the ICC and MCC should be looking at and making sure they are up to speed with what is happening at all levels of cricket, and are aware of what developments are being made with bats," Elliott said.

"The bat complies with the laws of cricket, and it always has complied with the laws of cricket. We as a company would never do anything to affect the spirit of the game of cricket, because we understand the importance of the balance between the bat and ball.

"We have never at any time attempted to enhance the performance of the bat. All we've done is tried to protect and strengthen the blade by applying the carbon fibre as reinforcement to the back of the bat."

Gavaskar, and former international players Angus Fraser, Tim May, Arjuna Ranatunga and David Richardson have been recommended for the panel.

The sub-committee will look into various issues of bat design, including the use of carbon graphite, the width and depth of bats and 'corking' -- a practice also linked to baseball where the inside of a bat is replaced by cork to make it lighter and easier to swing.

Ponting started using the bat in Australia late last year.

- AAP