Umpire

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Durban - The ICC needs to take responsibility for deciding when the Umpire Decision Referral System is used and not leave it up to the teams, South Africa captain Graeme Smith said on Wednesday.

The Proteas were on the wrong end of three umpiring mistakes in an 87-run loss to India in the second Test at Kingsmead that levelled the three-match series between cricket's top two test teams.

"They (the ICC) need to lead the way," Smith said. "If the technology is available and they want us to trial it and use it, then we must use it and get used to using it to have an idea if it works or not.

"Using it once in every seven series is not going to benefit anybody and we're not going to get a good idea whether it benefits the game or not."

International Cricket Council rules mean both teams currently have to agree to using UDRS, which allows players to challenge umpires' decisions through TV replays and technology. But Smith argued that it should not be left up to the countries' cricket boards.

India opted against it in South Africa and benefited when Zaheer Khan was given not out in India's second innings when replays showed he was plumb lbw. Khan went on to build a 70-run partnership with VVS Laxman that took the game away from South Africa.

Smith had his hands on his head in disbelief when umpire Steve Davis ruled Khan was not out despite being hit in front of the stumps by a full, straight delivery from Dale Steyn.

Proteas batsmen AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher were then given out to deliveries that were both missing the stumps in South Africa's unsuccessful run chase.

Smith said his message "all along" has been that the ICC needs to decide to use the system consistently.

Before the series, Smith and South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl both wanted UDRS to be used in the series against India, with Van Zyl saying it made no sense if it was used in some series and not others.

UDRS has been used frequently in the Ashes series between England and Australia.

India said it was not 100 percent certain of the accuracy of the technology, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni comparing UDRS to a lifejacket without a warranty when asked about it ahead of the first test.

"I have said it plenty of times in India ... I'll repeat it over here," Dhoni said. "When you go to a shop to buy a lifejacket you want something with a warranty. You don't want to spend money on something the shopkeeper says won't work if you need it.

"We shouldn't be in a hurry to bring it (UDRS) into cricket. If you are spending money, rather take something that is 100 percent guaranteed."