Not playing with a straight bat?

2. Ponting's bat has a thin strip of graphite stuck to the back emblazoned with the name of the manufacturer, Kookaburra. Cricket's powerbrokers have stepped in to decide whether to outlaw the non-wood component, which could also cover up any tampering of the bat.

3. Corking is an illegal practice to increase the blade's power-weight ration. First a hole is bored the size of a five pence piece and filled with cork. A thin piece of wood is stuck on top and stickers hide the bat tampering.