Watch: Jos Buttler’s muted appeal almost costs England chance of a wicket

Having already sealed the three-match ODI series, Australia is currently taking on England in the final match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Batting first, the home team once again had a great start. David Warner and Travis Head gave Australia the perfect start they needed to white-wash England in the series.

The two scored a century each and added a 369-run partnership for the first wicket. England, on the other hand, had lost their desire to take wickets, as evidenced by their body language. After the wickets of Warner (106) and Head (152), Steve Smith was in the middle.

While he could not add much to the scoreboard, his wicket accounted for a hilarious moment on the field. Smith attempted to scoop a short ball by Ben Stokes over the keeper in the 46th over of the game but edged it. Jos Buttler, the wicketkeeper, caught it but had a very muted appeal. Paul Wilson, the umpire, was confused and did not believe that Buttler made a fair appeal.

He did not rule the wicket out, but Buttler quickly asked for a DRS, and the umpire quickly overturned his decision without referring to the third umpire. The team skipper’s hushed appeal nearly cost the team a crucial wicket. A video of the same has gone viral on the internet.

Here is a video of Jos Buttler’s appeal

In the meantime, David Warner and Travis Head’s excellence propelled Australia to a massive total of 355/5 in a rain-reduced 48-over game. Mitchell Marsh also played a short cameo of 30 runs in just 16 balls. For England, Olly Stone took a four-wicket haul but proved very expensive, having conceded 85 runs in his 10-over spell.

On the other hand, the Three Lions did not have a good start. They lost in-form Dawid Malan in the third over itself. He could only score two runs in four balls in this match. England will hope for a miracle to help them over the line.