Ricky Ponting proven right again after Steve Smith goes public with stunning confession

Ricky Ponting declared in December that the current technology used in cricket matches in Australia is "simply not as good" as that used in other parts of the world. And he was proven right on Thursday when Steve Smith survived a controversial review before admitting after the day's play that he nicked the ball.

Smith appeared to start walking off the field after Bangladesh called for a review early in his innings when they thought he was caught behind. The on-field decision was not out, and the DRS replays didn't show a clear spike when the ball passed the bat so Smith survived.

The Aussie superstar appeared surprised that he wasn't out, and speaking to reporters after the opening day he confessed that he thought he hit it. "I think so, yeah," Smith said when asked if he nicked the ball. "Was I lucky? It seems so, yeah. You've got to take it sometimes."

Smith said the technology was "normally pretty good", but conceded: "Maybe I didn't nick it. I certainly felt something. If I was given out I was going to walk off. Technology saved me today I guess."

Smith went on to make 71, taking full advantage of the reprieve. But the incident has only raised more questions about the technology after a number of controversial incidents in last summer's Ashes series.

Ricky Ponting's complaints about Aussie technology

Ponting said at the time: "This technology that we are using here (in Australia) is simply not as good as technology that's used in other countries. You talk to the umpires, they'll tell you the same thing. They can't trust it."

After a contentious call went against Australia in the third Test against England, Mitchell Starc was picked up on the stump microphone saying: "Snicko needs to be sacked. That's the worst technology there is. They make a mistake the other day and they make another mistake today."

Smith's innings on Thursday saved the Aussies from even more embarrassment than what they suffered anyway. The hosts were bowled out for just 198 in Darwin before Bangladesh went to stumps at 1-96.

Smith said he wasn't sure why captain Pat Cummins decided to bat first in tricky conditions. "When we turned up this morning it was a bit tacky, I think just from the dew potentially," he said.

"It will be interesting to see tomorrow morning if it is the same. It definitely hardened up as the day went on but ... if it softens up I think it will be tricky to bat again."

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