CRICKET MUST COME FIRST -- SMITH

The use of more technology in umpiring decisions should be introduced with great caution, Proteas captain Graeme Smith said on Wednesday.

Smith was commenting on calls for more decisions to be referred to the third umpire to prevent the kind of poor decisions that created bad blood between Australia and India during the second Test in Sydney last week.

"If they do introduce challenges, like in tennis, there are all sorts of things to be taken into consideration - how much time it's going to take, how challenges would be structured," said Smith.

"It's harder in cricket than in rugby - unequal boundaries, camera positions, that sort of thing. If you're going to bring more technology into the game, it's got to be 100 per cent correct. You can't have it 50/50 or even 80/20.

"It's very important that it should be for the benefit of the game. We want to see the game moving forward - moving with the times, yes, but keeping certain traditions and what makes cricket good.

"It's the same thing in our environment. When decisions are made between administrators, media, players, whatever - the game of cricket must be the priority. It's what is best for cricket that counts."

Regarding calls for 'sledging' to be banned, Smith said on-field exchanges had their place, but there were lines that should not be crossed.

"The competitiveness needs to be there. I don't think anyone wants to rock up and watch a Sunday league game," said Smith. "People want to see two competitive international teams. But there certainly are lines that must be drawn.

"We know that you can't be swearing at other people, we know that you can't make stupid remarks at other people. But the banter and competitiveness need to be there.

"We know the barriers. We sit down with the match referee before every series and he tells the captains what to watch out for. I think it's having umpires who manage things on the field, and the captains must take responsibility for their players. As international sportsmen, we've got to know our boundaries."