Colombo, March 5: Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Saturday echoed the sentiments of his Indian counterpart on the controversial Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) being used in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Ponting insisted that using the UDRS without the hot spot was futile. “The distance where the ball hits and how far it has to travel before it hits the stumps, those sorts of things are vital […] At the start of the tournament, when we found out [the ICC] are using the UDRS without the hot spot, it was a bit of a shock for us. I think the hot spot should be a part of the system,” Ponting insisted.

Ponting, who has led Australia to two CWC title wins added, “There have been different views on the same in the last few days. The main reason for that being the different interpretations by the umpires on what’s right and what’s not.”

Earlier, Indian skipper MS Dhoni had expressed his disappointment with an LBW decision against Ian Bell that went in England’s favour when the two teams squared off last Sunday.

The middle-order batsman was ruled not out by on-field umpire Billy Bowden as well as the third umpire despite television replays showing that the ball had pitched in line with the stumps.

The decision proved crucial as Bell, who was on 17 when the incident took place, eventually went on to score 69. The match was tantalisingly poised till the very end, finally ending in a tie.