Coach Darren Lehmann has defended the use of Channel Nine’s Spidercam, despite it playing a key role in a crucial dropped catch by Australia on day three of the fourth Test against India at the SCG.

Steve Smith blamed the high-tech broadcasting device for interfering as he spilled century maker KL Rahul off Shane Watson when he was 46 late in Thursday’s first session.

As Smith chased Rahul’s top edge around from first slip, the aerial camera hovered above him before the stand-in captain grassed the difficult chance.

As he lay sprawled on the turf behind the wicket, the Australia skipper gesticulated to the camera above him and could be seen clearly mouthing the words “f***ing wire”.

Channel Nine commentator Ian Healy’s immediate reaction was to say: ” I think it’s hit the wire”.

After several replays of the incident, that couldn’t be confirmed, and Healy said: “It might not have hit the wire it might have just distracted him.”

Shortly after the incident, Cricket and Australia released a joint statement denying the ball had hit the broadcasting device.

In the press conference at the end of the day’s play, Lehmann didn’t lay the blame for Smith’s dropped chance on Spidercam.

“I think it’s good for the game. It’s not ideal where it was positioned for that particular ball,” Lehmann said.

“I actually like watching it. We’ve just got the position right when the bowler’s bowling – probably on the off side.

“It is great vision for the people at home and entertainment throughout the day; we’ve just got to make sure it’s positioned right more than anything else.

“You’ve got to remember players can move it and say they want it out of the road.

Channel Nine and Cricket Australia said they had spoken about Spidercam and the dropped catch.

“It’s clear the ball did not hit the camera or its supporting wires,” their joint release said.

“Captain Steve Smith was distracted by one of the wires in his eye line.

“Both CA and Nine will continue to work together on the use of Spidercam in the broadcast coverage and will take on board any player feedback as necessary.”

They reiterated that players can ask the umpires for it to be moved.

“Spidercam technology has been used in Nine’s international cricket coverage for many years and is used in other major sporting events such as the SuperBowl, NRL and AFL Grand Finals.”