England captain Ben Stokes has had a stellar performance with the ball, which he continued during the Ashes. After Travis Head hit two consecutive fours, the England captain had a heated exchange with batsman Marnus Labuschagne at the non-striker’s end.
After the Ashes campaign gained momentum after the first win in Australia after a long wait of 14 years, the command of the Ashes has once again passed from the hands of Australia to the hands of England. England won the MCG Test and were eyeing a win at the SCG to regain their lost glory.
Based on the results of the Sydney Test, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum are eyeing control over the England team. England have not been at their best so far, due to which a cloud of insecurity is hanging over McCullum’s strategies as a red-ball coach.
There was a heated argument between Ben Stokes and Marnus Labuschagne on the second day at SCG.
England managed to post a credible score of 384 runs, with Joe Root scoring a mammoth 160 runs and Harry Brook also scoring a long half-century to take control on the first day, after which the Australian team came out to bat for 35 overs on the second day.
On another occasion Australian batsman Travis Head dominated. During the final moments of the day’s play, captain Ben Stokes bowled a tight delivery to Head until the explosive left-hander broke the shackles to hit two consecutive fours.
Marnus Labuschagne then had a few words with Stokes and it soon escalated into a brawl between the two hot-headed cricketers. Stokes came back and placed his shoulder on Labuschagne’s as they talked in a headlock position.
For a moment, Labuschagne seemed intimidated by Stokes’ personality as both players stepped back and the situation ended smoothly. Stokes later dismissed Labuschagne in his next over as he bowled a wide ball down gully and missed his half-century.
Heated moments between Ben Stokes and Marnus Labuschagne.
– This is ashes, cinema..!!!!
– Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) 5 January 2026
Ben Stokes is ahead with the ball after being out on zero
Ben Stokes could not help Joe Root with the bat. When Harry Brook was out after a promising partnership with Root, the England captain was dismissed in the middle. However, on this occasion too he was once again out on the ball of Mitchell Starc.
Australia’s left-arm fast bowlers have been dismissed countless times in this series. After being out on zero, he took over the Australian batting innings with the ball.
Stokes took the two wickets that fell during Australia’s excellent start on the second day. He took 2/30 from his 8.1 overs for the day and got the wicket of opener Jake Weatherald and then dismissed Marnus Labuschagne in the last over.
Travis Head close to third century of Ashes 2025-26
Keeping Ben Stokes aside, the rest of the English pacers got a bit of a beating from Australian opener Travis Head. Ever since Head was promoted to open the innings for Australia, he looks like he has rediscovered his great form in red-ball cricket.
Head scored 91 runs in just 87 balls with the help of 15 fours and came close to his third century as an opener in this series. His first century came in the second innings in Perth, and he then scored a second century in the second innings in Adelaide.
Also read: Revealed: Why did India refuse to drop Rishabh Pant for the New Zealand series despite his poor form?