Steve Smith has called for the controversial soft on-field call system for catches to be abolished after he was given out following four minutes of replays in Australia's series-deciding loss to England.

Smith first appeared to walk but then stood his ground after England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler claimed a low chance off the driving outside edge before Australia fell 16 runs short of their target of 303 at the SCG.

Umpires sent an on-field decision of out, before third umpire Kumar Dharmasena deliberated for just under four minutes on whether the ball had carried into the glove before upholding the on-field decision.

Buttler claimed post-match he had definitely held the catch, and while Smith said he had no issue with his opponent, he suggested the current system is easy to be manipulated by fielders.

"I'm not sure I'm a big fan of the ruling with the soft signal. It's hard to overturn anything," Smith said.

"We've seen a few this summer that have been pretty similar.

"If the fielder goes up and celebrates they're usually given out. If you're a bit apprehensive of what happens you're usually given not out. It's hard for them to overturn.

"I would actually like for the third umpire to have to make the decision whether it's out or not."

Jos Buttler was in the thick of the action during the third one-day international at the SCG. ( AAP: Brendan Esposito )

Buttler said he never had any doubt the ball had carried.

"I was pretty sure it was out. I think any wicketkeeper would tell you if he's got his fingers under it," he said.

"They always look either way on TV, but it was out."

Regardless, Smith said his dismissal for 45 had not played a big in Australia's loss, which condemned the world champions to their first home one-day series defeat since 2010.

Smith denies ball tampering allegation

Smith has shot down social media claims he tampered with the ball in Australia's loss.

Video posted on Twitter showed Smith putting his hands on the side of his lips and then rubbing his fingers on the ball, prompting claims he had rubbed lip balm on the ball.

Under the laws of cricket, the ball can be polished by a fielder "provided that no artificial substance is used".

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The video, taken from the 34th over, caught the eye of England's Barmy Army - but Smith laughed off the claims after the footage was shown to him by an Australian official.

"It was all spit," he said.

"People said something about lip balm, if you look at my lips they are pretty dry. I certainly didn't have any of that on.

"It's just the way I get the spit into the side of my mouth and onto the ball. There was nothing in it."

Meanwhile, Smith did find himself in trouble with the match officials for slow over-rates, after Australia fell two overs short of completing them in the allocated three-and-a-half hours, even with time allowances given.

Smith was fined 40 per cent of his match fee, but more crucially faces a one-match ban if his team fails to get through their overs again in the next year.

AAP