Sydney, Mar 4 : Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and his South African counterpart Graeme Smith expressed support for the video-referral system after Australia’s 162-run victory in the first Test at Johannesburg.

Ponting revealed Hot Spot technology would be used for the remainder of the series against South Africa to assist the video umpire.

Smith said the system should allow the video umpires to have the latest technology at their disposal, such as Hot Spot, the military-designed, infra-red imaging system used by Channel Nine that shows if the ball has struck a batsman, his bat or his pad.

“I think they’re going to be using Hot Spot in Durban and Cape Town in the next two Test matches. They couldn’t get the cameras here or something,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.

“That was mentioned in the referees’ meeting before the game and it was something that we, the Australian team, actually objected to, because maybe [they] should use it in all the three games or not at all. But we felt for the betterment of the trial that we should. It wasn’t available here but we’ll definitely give it a run in the next two games.”

Given the shortcomings with technology in Durban, Ponting was reasonably happy with how the system had worked in the first Test, although he admitted it would take time to become familiar with its use as a tactic.

Smith was less forgiving, saying the system had been undermined because all of the technology had not been available.

Meanwhile, Ponting has thrown his weight behind all-rounder Andrew McDonald being retained for Friday’s second Test in Durban despite his struggles with the willow. (ANI)