During the 19th over of the West Indies’ run chase, Joseph played a drive to cover and ran for a tight single. Mitchell Marsh picked up the ball and threw it to Spencer Johnson, who broke the stumps. Assuming the batter was out, the Australians did not show much excitement, with the bowler returning to his run-up soon after.

Though replays showed that Joseph was out of his crease and was, thus, run out, Abood ruled it not out as the fielding side did not appeal, leading to confusion all around. The Australians gathered around the umpire, who was firm in his verdict that no Australian appeal, without which he could not rule the batter out, according to the MCC Laws.

Tim David insisted that he appealed and could be heard saying, “This is ridiculous”, while David Warner said, “It’s an umpire error.”

Despite the dismayed Australian faces, Abood did not flinch from his decision, denying the team the winning wicket after he asked them to “get on with the game”. “Guys, this is getting ridiculous. We’re getting into really poor territory. Get on with the game.”

Speaking on the incident after the clash, Glenn Maxwell, who struck a record-breaking T20I hundred in the win, said it was a “weird rule”.

“We sort of stopped, thinking he’d sent it upstairs, and everyone was turned around watching the big screen and the batter had already started walking off. So it was just confusing – thank God it didn’t cost the game. Just one of those weird rules in cricket, we should probably just be a bit louder with our appeals.”

Despite the decision, Australia went on to win the game by 34 runs and take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Watch the incident here:

No appeal = no run out?

An unusual situation unfolded in Sunday night's T20 international #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/PKmBVKyTyF

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 11, 2024