<p>The decision-review technology known as Hot Spot has been dumped just weeks before Australia's Ashes series against England, reports said today.</p>.<p>The controversial infrared camera system has been dropped by the host broadcaster due to costs, Hot Spot's Australian inventor Warren Brennan told Fairfax Media.<br /><br />The decision-review device, which uses heat sensors and infrared cameras to detect contact between the ball, bat and pads, will now not feature in the showpiece five-Test series, beginning at Brisbane's Gabba ground on November 21.<br /><br />"It's their decision and that's what's been communicated to us. As far as I'm concerned, it is final," Brennan said.<br /><br />"We're just moving on with things. Channel Nine have got a new deal with Cricket Australia which I know has cost them a lot more money. I gather there had to be some restructuring of costs."<br /><br />The development leaves the ball-tracking component, Eagle Eye, audio evidence picked up by stump microphones and slow-motion replays as the remaining tools at the disposal of the third official for decision reviews in the Ashes.<br /><br />Trust in the Hot Spot technology was severely tested during the first leg of the back-to-back Ashes series won 3-0 by England in July-August.<br /><br />While match umpires were criticised for poor decisions, Hot Spot was at the centre of a succession of contentious verdicts involving fine edges.<br /><br />The cost of Hot Spot -- the company charges Aus$10,000 ($9,440) a day for the four-camera system Channel Nine has used, which totals Aus$250,000 ($236,000) for the Test series -- is a key reason behind the broadcaster cutting ties but its poor performance in England is also understood to be a factor, the media group said.<br /><br />A Cricket Australia spokesman said of the reports: "We don't think it's appropriate to comment on discussions between Nine and one of its partners."</p>
<p>The decision-review technology known as Hot Spot has been dumped just weeks before Australia's Ashes series against England, reports said today.</p>.<p>The controversial infrared camera system has been dropped by the host broadcaster due to costs, Hot Spot's Australian inventor Warren Brennan told Fairfax Media.<br /><br />The decision-review device, which uses heat sensors and infrared cameras to detect contact between the ball, bat and pads, will now not feature in the showpiece five-Test series, beginning at Brisbane's Gabba ground on November 21.<br /><br />"It's their decision and that's what's been communicated to us. As far as I'm concerned, it is final," Brennan said.<br /><br />"We're just moving on with things. Channel Nine have got a new deal with Cricket Australia which I know has cost them a lot more money. I gather there had to be some restructuring of costs."<br /><br />The development leaves the ball-tracking component, Eagle Eye, audio evidence picked up by stump microphones and slow-motion replays as the remaining tools at the disposal of the third official for decision reviews in the Ashes.<br /><br />Trust in the Hot Spot technology was severely tested during the first leg of the back-to-back Ashes series won 3-0 by England in July-August.<br /><br />While match umpires were criticised for poor decisions, Hot Spot was at the centre of a succession of contentious verdicts involving fine edges.<br /><br />The cost of Hot Spot -- the company charges Aus$10,000 ($9,440) a day for the four-camera system Channel Nine has used, which totals Aus$250,000 ($236,000) for the Test series -- is a key reason behind the broadcaster cutting ties but its poor performance in England is also understood to be a factor, the media group said.<br /><br />A Cricket Australia spokesman said of the reports: "We don't think it's appropriate to comment on discussions between Nine and one of its partners."</p>