The last Test of the Ashes series (2025-26) between Australia and England is being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. On Monday, on the second day of the Test, a heated argument was seen between England captain Ben Stokes and Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne. This debate gradually increased, its video is also going viral.

This altercation took place between Ben Stokes and Marnus Labuschagne on the second day of the Australia vs England fifth test. It started when Travis Head hit a four on a ball from Stokes in the 29th over.

Heated debate between Stokes and Labuschagne

After hitting the four, Ben Stokes said something to Travis Head. The head also replied to this. Meanwhile, when Stokes came to take his cap from the umpire after finishing the over, Marnus Labuschagne said something to Stokes. Then a heated argument started between these two. Finally Stokes came and placed his hand on Labuschagne’s shoulder and started saying something.

Things got pretty heated#Ashes pic.twitter.com/UHum32WUH0

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2026

Travis Head completed 500 runs

By the end of the second day of Sydney Test, Australia had scored 166 runs after losing 2 wickets. Currently the hosts are 218 runs behind. Head is playing after scoring 91 runs. He along with Marnus Labuschagne made a partnership of 105 runs for the second wicket.

Head is the only batsman to complete 500 runs in the Ashes series 2025-26. He has scored 528 runs, while the second highest run scorer, Joe Root, is 134 runs behind him. Root has scored 394 runs. Root scored 160 runs in the first innings of the fifth Test being played in Sydney.

Australia has won the series

Australia cricket team had already taken an unassailable lead in the 5-match test series. The team won the first 3 test matches, while England won the fourth test. Head is the batsman who scored the most runs (528*) and Mitchell Starc (28*) is the bowler who took the most wickets in this series.

Mitchell Starc has dominated the Ashes series. Australian fast bowlers have taken 22 wickets in the first 3 matches of the ongoing series against England. Due to Starc’s brilliant performance, Australia has taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. He has taken more than 5 wickets twice. He took 7 wickets in the first innings of the first Test played in Perth. Starc took 6 wickets in the first innings of the second Test played in Brisbane. Due to this performance, he has broken the 30 year old record of former Pakistani bowler Waqar Younis.

Mitchell Starc is the only bowler to do this in 2025

Mitchell Starc took 3 wickets in the second innings of the third Test played in Adelaide. With this, he has taken 51 Test wickets in the year 2025, he is the only bowler to do so. There is still one more Test (Boxing Day Test) left for Australia this year. This means that Starc has a chance to increase this number, but before that he has already broken many big records. In terms of most Test wickets in the ongoing year (2025), Indian bowler Mohammad Siraj is at second place, who has 43 wickets to his name.

Stark created history

Mitchell Starc has taken 50 wickets this year with a strike rate of 28.7. He has made the record of best strike rate in the calendar year, this record was in the name of former Pakistan bowler Waqar Younis for 30 years. In the 148-year-old Test history, Starc has become the bowler with the best strike rate in a calendar year.

Waqar Younis made this record in 1993, when he took 55 wickets with a strike rate of 29.5. Waqar Younis and Mitchell Starc are the only ones who have taken 50 or more wickets in a calendar year with a strike rate of less than 30.

Now in this matter, only England’s George Lohman is ahead of Starc, who took 38 wickets with a strike rate of 18 in 1886. Although he was not able to take 50 wickets that year, Starc has the best strike rate among the bowlers who have taken 50 wickets in a calendar year.

Jasprit Bumrah also came close

Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah also came close to this record of Waqar Younis. Bumrah took 71 Test wickets in 2024, his strike rate was 30.1. In 2024 itself, Gus Atkinson of England had taken 52 wickets, his strike rate was 35.6.

The Ashes Series 2025-26: The England cricket team has not been able to win a single test match in Australia for the last 15 years. England last won a Test match on Australian soil in 2010-11. After this, 17 test matches have been played between England and Australia so far, in which the English team has failed to win even a single test match. Out of these 17 matches, the 15th defeat was in the day-night test played in Brisbane. However, the reason given by the team’s head coach Brendon McCullum for this defeat has surprised everyone. McCullum says that the team had prepared more than necessary for this match.

Ashes series 2025-26 account

The ongoing 2025-26 Ashes series between Australia and England started from Perth. In the first match of this series, Australia gave a crushing defeat to England in just 2 days. 12 days later, the second match was played in Brisbane with day-night i.e. pink ball. However, this match continued till the fourth day but the result remained the same as Perth Test. In this match, England had to face a shameful defeat by 8 wickets. At the same time, England suffered its 15th defeat out of 17 consecutive Tests on Australian soil, while 2 Test matches between the two teams have been drawn.

McCullum’s surprising statement after the defeat in Brisbane Test

After the defeat in the first two matches of the Ashes series 2025-26, England’s hopes of comeback are looking difficult and head coach McCullum is under question on this. As bad as England’s performance was in the Brisbane Test, coach Brendon McCullum gave an even more surprising statement. Speaking to the broadcaster after the defeat to the English team, McCullum said, “We probably Will drink beer at night. I think we had prepared more than necessary before coming into this match. We trained very hard for five consecutive days and sometimes when you are preparing for a competition, like we are, sometimes the most important thing is to feel fresh.”

“Leading into this Test match, I actually think we over prepared to be honest.”

– Brendon McCullum talks about England’s approach heading into Brisbane and whether it’ll change for Adelaide #Ashes pic.twitter.com/YII0f9slli

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 7, 2025

England left the practice match after a 12-day break

As far as England’s preparations are concerned, the first match of the series started on 21 November and ended on 22 November. After this, the second match started from 4th December i.e. during this time the English team got a break of 12 days. Even though McCullum talked about 5 consecutive training sessions, during this time England also had a chance to play a day-night practice match but the pair of Stokes and McCullum had decided to rest instead of taking part in it.

The Ashes Series 2025-26: The second match of the ongoing 5-match 2025-26 Ashes series between Australia and England was played as a day-night test in Brisbane. Australia has taken a strong 2-0 lead in the series by defeating England by eight wickets in this match. After achieving a decisive victory in the Brisbane Test, Australia remains on top in the current rankings of the World Test Championship (WTC). At the same time, England’s problems have increased in this ranking.

Brisbane Test account

In the Brisbane Test, England won the toss and decided to bat first. England did not have a good start in the first innings and lost 2 wickets for just 5 runs. After this, thanks to the brilliant century of England’s legendary batsman Joe Root (138 runs) and half-century of Jack Crawley (76 runs), England was able to score 334 runs in its first innings. In reply, Australia managed to take a huge lead of 177 runs in the first innings with all its batsmen scoring double digit runs.

The England team was seen struggling in the second innings and lost six wickets for just 128 runs, but captain Ben Stokes (50 runs) and Will Jacques (41 runs) played a fighting innings. These two batsmen did not lose any wicket in the first session of the fourth day and made an important partnership of 96 runs for the seventh wicket, due to which Australia got the target of only 65 runs to win. Chasing this small target, Australia achieved it in just 10 overs, despite losing two wickets in the form of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. Steve Smith won this match brilliantly by hitting a six off Gus Atkinson.

Australia on top in WTC rankings

After a spectacular win in the day-night Test, Australia remains on top of the 2025-27 WTC standings with 100% percentage points (PCT), having won all five of its matches. At the same time, England has suffered a big loss due to the defeat in Brisbane Test and it has slipped from sixth position to seventh position. If we talk about Team India, it remains at 5th position in the current ranking of Test Championship (WTC).

Mitchell Starc created history by scoring a half-century against England in Brisbane. Australia is in a strong position in the second Test of the Ashes series being played at the Gabba Stadium in Brisbane, the reason for this is also Starc. Starc took 6 wickets in England’s first innings, due to which the team was reduced to 334 runs.

Mitchell Starc did not even allow opener Ben Duckett and third-placed Ollie Pope to open their account in England’s first innings, after which he sent Harry Brook (31), Will Jacques (19), Gus Atkinson and Braydon Carse to the pavilion. Starc also performed brilliantly with the bat, till the time of writing the news he is unbeaten on 56 runs.

Mitchell Starc is only the second player to do so

Mitchell Starc is the third highest wicket taker in the ICC World Test Championship, both the players above him are Australians. Nathan Lyon is at first place with 219 wickets and Pat Cummins is at second place with 215 wickets. Mitchell Starc has taken 207 wickets.

Mitchell Starc is the second player to score 200 wickets and 1000 runs in the World Test Championship. Along with him, Pat Cummins is also included in this list, who has 215 wickets and 1020 runs in his name.

Mitchell Starc touched this figure in 71 innings of 51 Tests, he has 1003* runs in his name. His average is 18.92 and strike rate is 50.78. Starc has played 2 half-century innings in WTC. Starc has taken 207 wickets in WTC, his economy was 3.46. In this he has taken five wicket haul 7 times.

Australia is in a strong position

Australia had defeated England in the first match of the Ashes series 2025-2026, Australia is in a strong position in the second test also. England’s first innings was reduced to 334 runs, while Joe Root alone scored 138 runs. He remained unbeaten. Jack Weatherald (72), Marnus Labuschagne (65), Steve Smith (61), Alex Carey (63) and Mitchell Starc (56) have scored half-centuries for Australia. Till the time of writing the news, Australia has a lead of 144 runs.

Mitchell Starc AUS vs ENG Pink Ball Day Night Test: The second match of the Ashes series between Australia and England is being played with pink ball at Gabba from today i.e. December 4, 2025. In this match, Australia’s legendary fast bowler Mitchell Starc has created history. In the very first over of the day-night Test match being played with pink ball, Starc clean bowled England’s opener Ben Duckett at the score of 0, then in his second over he also bowled out vice-captain Ollie Pope without opening the account.

Who won the toss in the pink ball test?

In the Brisbane Test, England’s decision to bat first after winning the toss proved wrong. In this match, Australia took the lead in the match by giving initial shocks to England. England’s score in the first three overs was 2/5, the main reason for which was the stormy fast bowler Mitchell Starc.

Mitchell Starc created history

Mitchell Starc has taken the maximum number of 83 wickets in the Pink Ball Test. As soon as England took the first two wickets, Starc accomplished a big feat and became the first player in the world to take 20 wickets against any team with the pink ball.

• 20 – Mitchell Starc vs England (6 innings)
• 17 – Mitchell Starc vs West Indies (6 innings)
• 16- Shamar Joseph vs Australia (4 innings)
• 16 – Alzarri Joseph vs Australia (6 innings)

Mitchell Starc equals Wasim Akram’s record

Mitchell Starc has equaled Pakistan’s legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram in the list of left-arm fast bowlers who have taken the most wickets in Test cricket. This record was earlier in the name of Wasim Akram. In Test cricket, Akram took 414 wickets in 104 Test matches at an average of 23.62, while Starc touched the figure of 414 in his 102nd Test itself, in which his average is 26.52. At third place is Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka, who has taken 355 wickets in 111 Tests. While New Zealand’s Trent Boult is at fourth place with 317 wickets in 78 matches, India’s Zaheer Khan is in the top-5 list with 311 wickets after playing 92 Test matches.

Bowler taking most wickets in first over

Starc has taken wickets for the third consecutive time in the first over of the current Ashes series. The first match of the Ashes series was played in Parth, in which Jack Crawley was out for zero in the first over of both the innings. Starc is already on top in terms of taking most wickets in the first over of a Test match. In the history of Test cricket, Starc has so far taken 26 wickets in the first over. After him in this list, James Anderson is at third place with 19 wickets and Kemar Roach is at third place with 10 wickets.

The Ashes series is considered to be the most exciting series of Test cricket. Cricket lovers around the world wait for the series to be held once in two years between Australia and England. The next edition (2025-26) of this series, which is being played since 1882-83, is starting from 21 November in Perth. Before starting the series, let us take a look at Ashes 2005. After losing 8 consecutive Ashes, England stopped Australia’s victory chariot by registering victory on their own soil in 2005.

Sometimes England and sometimes Australia have been defeating each other in the Ashes. Often both countries prevail over the other on their own soil. The Ashes 1986–87 was played in Australia. England had won 2-1 in this series. This victory of England on Australian soil was bold and memorable. But after this series, Australia made it impossible for England to win the Ashes. Whether the series was in Australia or England, Australia remained the winner.

Australia defeated England in the Ashes series 8 consecutive times in 1989, 1990-91, 1993, 1994-95, 1997, 1998-99, 2001, 2002-03. England was looking for a captain and team that could win back the Ashes and restore its lost prestige. This opportunity came in the Ashes 2005.

In 2005, Australia under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting reached England for a 5-Test series. England, under the captaincy of Michael Vaughan, was desperate to get the Ashes title back on their soil. But in the first Test played at Lord’s, Australia won by 239 runs. After this defeat, once again England was in danger of losing the series.

In the second test, England made a strong comeback and leveled the series 1-1 by defeating Australia by 2 runs in a thrilling match played in Birmingham. The third match played in Manchester was a draw.

England took a 2-1 lead in the series by winning the fourth Test played in Nottingham by 3 wickets. The fifth Test played at The Oval was a draw and with this England won the series 2-1.

Andrew Flintoff emerged as a hero with ball and bat in the series for England. Flintoff scored 402 runs and took 24 wickets. For England, Kevin Pietersen scored 473 runs and opener Marcus Trescothick scored 431 runs. Andrew Strauss played a big role in the historic victory by scoring 393 runs and captain Miles Vaughan scored 326 runs. Australia’s Shane Warne and Andrew Flintoff, who took 40 wickets, were the players of the series.

The Ashes Series 2025-26: Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has argued that England’s baseball approach was specifically designed to win the Ashes in Australia. The Ashes series between the two countries is going to start from 21st November. Ricky Ponting told ‘7News’ that England’s aggressive style under the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes has always been focused on mastering Australian conditions.

Ponting gave statement on baseball

Ricky Ponting said, “England is a team that has been together for the last two years (after the 2023 Ashes). They are preparing for the Ashes. I know Brendon very well, baseball was designed just for this one series. Forget whatever happened in the last two years. It was all about putting together a team and a style of play that could win Test matches in Australia. England have won Test matches in Australia in the last 25 years. They have done this only four times, they have to win at least three matches in this series, so I am curious to see how they play.

What will be England’s plan in the Ashes?

The 2023 Ashes began with a signal of England’s intent. Australia had deployed a deep backward point for the initial overs at Edgbaston, but despite this, Jack Crawley hit a four over cover. Ponting hopes that England will continue this aggressive approach throughout the summer. He said, “I don’t think they will change. I have seen them a lot in the last two years. I know they will play the same way. Ben Duckett and Jack Crawley will play the same way they have always played. If they can do that, England will win the toss and elect to bowl and will be confident of scoring more runs in the fourth innings than the opposition did in the first innings.”

Australia Vs England Ashes Series 2025/26: The Ashes series is going to start from 21st November. A two-day warm-up match will be played between the first two matches of the series, in which Australia’s opening batsman Sam Constas has been included in the Prime Minister’s XI team for the match against England. This match will start from November 29 in Canberra, in which Victorian batsman Peter Handscomb will lead the team in the pink ball match. This match will play an important role in the preparation for the day-night test match to be held in Gabba, which will start from 4th December.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave statement on Ashes

Cricket.com.au quoted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as saying, “The Prime Minister’s XI is a proud tradition in Australian cricket. I am very pleased to confirm the team that will face England XI later this month. This team reflects the talent in our domestic cricket system. I am particularly excited to see some of our rising stars getting this opportunity.”

He said, “I am also eagerly waiting for the Ashes series starting in Perth from November 21. This is the oldest rivalry in world cricket. The clash between Australia and England in the Ashes series always has a different meaning.”

Sam Constas joins Prime Minister’s XI team

Along with Sam Konstans, this team also includes Under-19 World Cup winners Charlie Anderson, Oliver Peak and Hugh Wiebgen. Apart from these, experienced Peter Siddle will play in this practice match. Nathan McSweeney is another Test player in the team, while fast bowler Sam Skelly is the local ACT representative and the team is coached by former wicketkeeper batsman Tim Paine. On one hand, this match will be an opportunity for the players to test themselves against international rivals. On the other hand, fans will get a great opportunity to enjoy pink ball cricket in Canberra. Five matches in the Ashes series between Australia and England will be played between 21 November and 8 January.

England have announced their team for the Ashes 2025-26 against Australia. A 16 -member team has been announced for the five -Test series. Ben Stokes is the captain, while the responsibility of the vice captain was given to Harry Brook. The England team will visit Australia in November for the Ashes series.

Matthew Pots and Will Jacks have been named in the 16 -member team for the Ashes. Jacks is currently suffering from a finger injury. The ECB is confident that he will fit before the Ashes series. Jax last played a Test match against Pakistan in December 2022. He is returning to the Test team after three years. Jacques are a right batsman as well as a better option of spin bowling.

Fast bowler Matthew Pots last played the Test match for England against New Zealand in December 2024. Pots have performed brilliantly in the county season. For Durham, he has taken 28 wickets in 10 county championship matches.

England team also has fast bowler Mark Wood. He is returning to the team after recovering from the left knee injury. Shoaib Bashir has also made a place in the team by recovering from injury.

Apart from captain Ben Stokes as an experienced batsman in the team, Joe Root, Jack Croly, Ben Docket and Oli are Pope. Apart from this, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith will also be dominated.

Apart from Mark Wood and Matthew Pot, there is also Jofra Archer in the England team, who will lead fast bowling. Bridan Cars, Gas Atkinson, Josh Tung will also strengthen fast bowling. At the same time, Shoaib Bashir will get support from Jacks, Route and Jacob Bethal in spin bowling.

The first Test of the Ashes series will be played from 21 November in Perth, the second Test will be played in Brisbane from December 4, the third Test from December 17 in Adelaide, the fourth Test from December 26 in Melbourne and the fifth Test from January 4 in Sydney.

England Squad for Ashes Series 2025-26:-

Ben Stokes (Captain), Harry Brook (Vice-Captain), Jack Croly, Joe Root, Jacob Bethel, Oli Pope, Ben Docket, Gas Atkinson, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Will Jacks, Joffra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Breedon Cars, Matthew Pots, Josh Tung, Mark Wood.