Ashes rivalries rarely need extra fuel, but on the second day of the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, ben stokes And marnus labuschagne Poured petrol on the fire. In a series already defined by intense competition, the tension finally came to a head in this afternoon’s dramatic clash. The incident resulted in a heated exchange between the England captain and the Australian No. 3, involving colorful language and an unusual physical confrontation, which immediately became the biggest talking point of the match.
Ben Stokes had a heated argument with Marnus Labuschagne
The backdrop to this incident was a tough final session on the second day. Australia were looking to build a good lead in the first innings, and Labuschagne was doing what he does best: occupying the crease and troubling the opposition in his unique ways. As the session progressed, the Sydney lights began to fade. Labuschagne, always a perfectionist when it came to batting position, began complaining to the umpires and repeatedly moving away from his stance as the bowlers approached the crease.
For Stokes, who was bowling tirelessly and desperate to take wickets before the game was over, these delaying tactics became increasingly infuriating. The atmosphere became tense with every canceled run-up and every complaint about lighting. Ultimately the dam broke during Stokes’ over. shouted the England captain, after the Australian batsman continued to chip and block. The stump microphone left little room for imagination, clearly telling Stokes off aggressively to Labuschagne “Keep quiet, nonsense.”**
However, the incident did not end with abuse. In a move that surprised spectators and commentators alike, Stokes walked straight up to Labuschagne in the middle of the pitch and wrapped his arm tightly around the batsman’s neck and shoulder area. Although some may try to pass it off as a friendly gesture, the body language was anything but friendly. On commentary, former Australian star Mark Waugh immediately noticed the aggression and commented that for a second, he thought Stokes was going to put Labuschagne in a ‘headlock’.
Here is the video:
The matter became very heated 👀#ash pic.twitter.com/UHum32WUH0
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 5 January 2026
Also read: Fans go crazy as Travis Head beats England on day 3 of Sydney Test
Stokes got the last laugh
After a few moments of verbal spray and physical contact, Stokes came in to bowl his next over. Incorporating his aggression into his delivery stride, he gained a significant lead over Labuschagne. A sharp catch was taken at Gully, dismissing the Australian for 48 and ending a dangerous partnership with Travis Head.
Australia in control after Travis Head’s century
Meanwhile, Australia tightened their grip on the third day of the Test after a compelling post-lunch session, scoring 96 runs in 26 overs but also losing three important wickets. Head’s century threatened to loom over the match, even though he had been out early in the session, to a fast ball. jacob bethel, Usman Khawaja joined again steve smith England played hard with the old ball for a largely quiet game, opting to take the second new ball as soon as it became available. The move paid dividends braydon carse Khawaja was lbw on a low full toss and alex careyHis positive intent once again proved costly as he fell into the leg-stump trap for the third time in as many Test matches in this series.
However, Smith has been rock solid at the crease as well cameron green Still looking for runs and beau webster And Mitchell Starc Australia remains in a strong position to follow. That said, with signs of an uneven bounce already visible, the hosts will be keen to clinch a significant lead, knowing that batting last on this surface could be a tricky proposition.
Also read: Ricky Ponting names Australia’s 16-man squad for Ashes 2027; Two uncapped players selected
