Video: Is hot spot a waste of time?

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Kevin Pietersen expressed his displeasure after being given out following his referral. Source:AFP

Hot spot is a waste of time.

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This sophisticated and expensive infrared technology clearly doesn't work as it is intended.

Either that or the video umpire now has so little faith in it he simply ignores it.

Kevin Pietersen's dismissal has become the latest confusing reason why hot spot doesn't matter any more.

There was a jubilant appeal by the Australians 15 minutes before lunch on the final day of the third Test at Old Trafford as England was desperately attempting to hold on for a draw.

Pietersen was just eight when he pushed at a ball from Siddle which was taken by wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.

The gloveman and slips went up as one, celebrating wildly that they had claimed England's biggest wicket.

Watch the video at the top of the page and decide for yourself!

Umpire Tony Hill took a customary age before giving Pietersen out, much to his great shock.

He walked down the pitch to batting partner Joe Root shaking his head and called for a review.

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Numerous replays showed there was no white mark on the edge of his grey bat with the grainy, charcoal pictures offered by hot spot.

Yet video umpire Kumar Dharmasena found no evidence to overturn Hill's decision.

It was certainly not as bad as the shocking decision Dharmasena upheld against Khawaja in the first innings, when a ball from Graeme Swann had clearly turned well past Khawaja's bat.

Pietersen may well have tickled a thin edge. Certainly the "snicko" white line went off as though there had been a mild earthquake, although snicko does pick up all sounds at that moment.

It could have been a noise from anywhere, which is why video umpires are not allowed to use it. However they do have direct stump mike audio which can sometimes replay the sound of a nick.

Whatever the case, hot spot now only adds to the confusion and lack of confidence surrounding the umpiring and decision review system (DRS) in this series.

A day earlier England wicket-keeper Matt Prior believed that David Warner had nicked a hook shot in Australia's second innings but was given not out.

"There was disbelief because he hit it and that's why we referred it and when you are that sure and it is still given not out it is quite frustrating, so that's why there was a bit of chat around," Prior said after stumps on day four.

"It is cricket at the moment. There wasn't any evidence and that is frustrating. All you can go on from a referral point of view was how you see it."

Prior remains a fan of the DRS despite the blunders in this series which have too often overshadowed the cricket.

"It works and it is the way forward but once you use a review you have to then get a decision right.

"Once it goes up to the third umpire the decision that comes out has to be the correct decision.

"Whether the technology needs to be looked at or how they use it, I don't know. But for the players at the moment that is the biggest frustration."