Cricket News: Steve Smith's 'dismissal' - Bizzare cricket rules about appeals

However, there was one moment in the third and final ODI of the series that will doubtless be a laughing moment for years to come. 

The moment occurred in the 46th over of Australia's innings, summing up the peculiarities of cricket in many ways. 

It started with a short ball from Olly Stone to Steve Smith, who went for the shot, but the ball flew straight through to Jos Buttler – or so it seemed. 

The England white-ball captain chose to appeal and was so confident he didn't need to verbalise the appeal, raising his hand in the form of an appeal. 

Amazingly, umpire Paul Wilson chose not to give Smith out at first. And so Jos Buttler decided to signal for a DRS review before shouting a customary 'Howzat' to the umpire. 

But rather than signal for the review, Paul Wilson then decided to give Steve Smith out – much to the bemusement of everyone. 

However, as former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist revealed on commentary, perhaps Wilson was waiting for the appeal before giving him out. 

"Buttler is reviewing this, straight away he thought he heard something," Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket commentary.

"Extraordinary scenes here. There have been a few low-key moments in a low-key game, but that tops it."

"Buttler thought he heard something straight away, even though it was almost a muffled, muted appeal. Maybe he had to wait for an actual appeal first before any action could be taken."

But was Adam Gilchrist – and by extension Paul Wilson – right? Did the umpire have to wait for a verbal appeal before giving the batsman out? 

In short – yes. But the confusion around everything is also understandable – and we'll get to that in just a bit. 

According to Law 31 of the Laws of Cricket, an umpire may not rule a batter out unless the fielding side appeals for a decision. 

And this appeal has to be verbal. So a bowler can turn to the umpire and scream, which is a legal appeal. It doesn't have to be in the form of a "howzat", either. 

But the critical part is that a verbal appeal is part of the rules, and an umpire is well within his rights not to give a batter out if the request doesn't come. 

That has changed in modern times – umpires will often give a batter out before an appeal in the case of an undeniable decision, like a caught behind that is visible to the naked eye. 

And it is precisely that modern interpretation that had many confused. If Paul Wilson felt Steve Smith was out, giving it would have been the sensible call. 

But, amazingly, the umpire was well within his rights not to give Steve Smith out. It would be within the rules – even if it left everyone utterly bemused, the players, fans, or even commentators.