Captains respond to SpiderCam incident

Australia captain Steve Smith joked that SpiderCam was his side’s best fielder on Saturday night, but added it was important the camera does not have an impact on a match after it was struck by a ball during the fifth Victoria Bitter ODI Series clash in Sydney.

Virat Kohli was denied four runs in the 19th over of India's successful run chase at the SCG when his flick over the slip cordon hit SpiderCam and was correctly declared a dead ball, despite continuing on to the boundary.

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SpiderCam is held aloft by a series of wires around a ground such as the SCG and provides an exciting bird's eye view of the match for television viewers around the world. 

WATCH: SpiderCam saves four for Australia

While it normally doesn't interfere with the match itself, Law 23 of the International Cricket Council's Playing Conditions for one-day international cricket determines that a ball will be declared dead on the rare occasion it hits the camera or its wires.

Both Smith and his counterpart MS Dhoni agreed the technology provided great access to viewers, but Smith said it was important the camera did not interfere in the play.

On a night where Australia dropped several catches in a tight loss, Smith was able to see the funny side of the SpiderCam's unintentional intervention.

"He was probably our best fielder tonight, SpiderCam. He saved four," the skipper said with a smile.

"I think they get all the access they need and the SpiderCam gets a lot of vision.

"I just think we need to make sure it's away when the ball is coming. We don't need to see things like that where it's a dead ball. Something like that can really change the course of the game.

"So I just think we need to make sure we get him out of the way when the bowler is coming in to bowl."

SpiderCam is used by cricket broadcasters around the world, including the Nine Network's since 2012, and provides a unique perspective in their coverage of the game. It is also used in many other sports, including Australian rules football and rugby league.

There have been a handful of previous incident involving SpiderCam; Smith witnessed a similar instance during a 2012 Champions League match while Chris Gayle was denied a six during the Indian Premier League last year when the umpires ruled the ball had deflected off one of the SpiderCam wires on its way over the rope. 

WATCH: SpiderCam distracts Smith catch

During last summer's fourth Test at the SCG, Smith said he was distracted by the SpiderCam wires as they moved above him and contributed to him dropping a skied catch at slip. As the ball didn't strike the camera or its wires on that occasion, a dead ball was not called.

Speaking after play, Dhoni could also see the lighter side and came up with the novel suggestion that SpiderCam – or presumably those operating it – should be fined if it plays a part in the match.

"I'm quite a traditional guy and I've always felt that anything that disturbs the game of cricket, I don't like it," Dhoni said.

"It all started from T20 when people were saying 'why don't you wear a mic, why don't you wear a camera?'.

"I always feel there needs to be a balance. At the end of the game it's a spectator sport, it's for the spectators and people watching on television but at the same time we have to make sure (this doesn't happen).

"Four runs can really matter. Especially when it's a 310, 320 game, those runs can be really crucial.

"Everyone gets penalised so why not have a system for the SpiderCam? If you get hit, $2000 per hit. Let's make it interesting.

"At the end of the day it's for the spectators and if spectators aren't there, cricket won't be played.

"It's mix and match but I think $2000 per hit, I think that's a good option."