Ricky Ponting, the world's best batsman, has been using a bat that's been deemed illegal.
The Kookaburra model breaks a rule that says the blade must be made solely of wood, the International Cricket Council said in a statement today. The Australian captain's bat has a wooden blade bonded to a carbon graphite back.
Following the ruling by the Marylebone Cricket Club, the sport's lawmakers, Melbourne-based Kookaburra agreed to withdraw the bats from international competition and supply players with alternate equipment ``as soon as possible,'' the ICC said.
Ponting started using the bat in late 2004. The top-ranked Test batsman and No. 2 in one-day cricket hit 1,596 Test runs in the 12 months from Feb. 1, 2005, including back-to-back centuries last month to seal a 2-0 series win over South Africa. He also cracked 1,137 one-day runs in the period.
Australian internationals Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Damien Martyn and Mike Hussey, who was this month voted the country's top one-day player, also use the bat, along with Sri Lankans Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara, ICC spokesman Brendan McClements said in an interview.
The ruling means several Australian players will have to adapt to a new bat in time for the tour to South Africa, which begins with a 20-over-per-side international on Feb. 24. The top-ranked side beat Sri Lanka two days ago in a one-day series final to continue its resurgence since surrendering the Ashes to England last year.
Brett Elliot, managing director of Kookaburra U.K., wasn't immediately available for comment.
The MCC first questioned the legality of the bat in April. The following month, the ICC ruled that players could continue using it while the sport's lawmakers investigated.
``Cricket should remain a battle between a wooden bat and leather ball with the members strongly of the opinion that innovations that enhance the striking power of a bat should not be permitted,'' ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said at the time.
Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee was banned from using an aluminum bat in a 1979 Test against England.