VIDEO | Desperate Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow adopt weird beamer strategy to “stump” Steve Smith

Just when we think we've seen everything, the game of cricket comes up with something amusing to leave everyone scratching their heads. With scores of 239, 76, 102*, 83 and 144 in his last 5 Ashes innings, Steve Smith yet again carried Australia on his shoulders with a half-century in the second innings, almost being the only barrier England have found impossible to breach.

With a 34-run lead in the bank, Smith started off proceedings on Day 4 for Australia against Moeen Ali, who was licking his lips looking at the unevenness and dryness of the wicket, which offered plenty of turn, grip and uneven bounce. The first ball of the day kept extremely low, almost rolling as it reached Smith, but the latter managed to keep it out, staying out of harm's way. 

But the highlight of the over had to be the fifth delivery. As Ali came in to deliver the ball to Smith, the Australian danced down the wicket, trying to get to the pitch of the ball, while also negating the uneven turn and bounce. However, Ali, who saw this, quickly bowled a beamer which went over the top of Smith's head. Jonny Bairstow, who sensed Smith standing on the middle of the wicket, tried to stump the Australian, but to his dismay, failed to collect the ball. The on-field umpire Joel Wilson instantly signalled a no-ball due to the ball being a beamer.

Ironically though, even if Bairstow had collected the ball and taken the bails off, it would have been to no avail, as a batsman cannot be dismissed "stumped" off a no-ball.  After all, it does look like England have run out of ways to get the New South Welshman out.