MELBOURNE, Dec 28: South African captain Graeme Smith has escaped punishment despite breaching one of Test cricket’s laws in taking a contentious catch against Australia at the MCG.

Smith overstepped the line when he motioned for the umpires to refer a decision to the television replay when he took a catch at first slip in the first session of second day in the second Test on Saturday.

Unsure whether Australian tailender Nathan Hauritz’s edge had carried to him on the full or not, Smith motioned he did not know.

But he then signalled to umpire Billy Doctrove at square leg to call for the television umpire to officiate.

Under cricket’s laws, players are not allowed to call for decisions to be referred to the third umpire. Only umpires can do so.

Doctrove and colleague Aleem Dar convened before Aleem referred the decision upstairs, and third umpire Bruce Oxenford eventually ruled Smith had got his fingers underneath the ball and taken a catch.Hauritz’s departure for 12 earned Dale Steyn a five-wicket haul.

Despite Smith technically breaching the rules by calling for television replays to be used, the ICC will not sanction the Proteas skipper.

It is understood the umpires did not consider the breach serious, and took a common-sense approach to Smith’s appeal given the decision was clearly line-ball.

The crowd was never informed via the big screen that Hauritz was out until he began walking towards the pavilion.—Agencies