Former paceman Ryan Harris says umpire Richard Kettleborough "overacted" when he cautioned Australia for bounce returns in Christchurch.
The tactic is often used by teams attempting to scuff one side of the ball, which makes it possible for reverse-swing to come into play.
It is frowned upon by umpires, although generally allowed to happen.
Kettleborough took exception to the ball banging into the abrasive wicket block on day three of the second trans-Tasman Test.
The Englishman threatened to change the Kookaburra at one point.
"All teams do it," Harris told radio station SEN.
"When New Zealand were bowling and they were doing the exact same thing.
"The umpires seemed to have overreacted in my mind.
"They jumped straight onto us and it makes us look worse."
Harris, who retired last year after playing 27 Tests for Australia, suggested Kettleborough could have been more subtle.
"There might have been a couple of times where the ball bounced where it probably shouldn't have," he said.
"The way they should do it is just a quiet word to the players as they walk past them.
"You can't blatantly throw the ball in from close to the wicket to the `keeper, but if you're in the outfield that's fine.
"I've read all night on twitter all the uproar about it; it happens just about every game."
Adam Voges had no issue with Kettleborough rebuking Australia for failing to return the ball to `keeper Peter Nevill on the full.
"That's the umpires' job, to tell us when we're getting close," Voges said.
"That's what happened today and we kept it up pretty well after that."
