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.

Australia vs England 5th Test is being played at Sydney Cricket Ground, in which something happened which has not happened in the last 138 years. For the first time, Australia is playing without a specialist spinner. Steve Smith said that he was forced to take this decision, he also looked unhappy with the pitch.

Australia cricket team has already made an unassailable lead in the Ashes series. The team won the first 3 matches, while the fourth match was won by England. The Sydney Test started from Sunday. There is no specialist spinner in Australia’s playing 11, on which Steve Smith said that he did not like it but the pitch was such that he had no other option.

This happened for the first time in 138 years

This is the first time in 138 years that Australia is playing a Test match without a specialist spinner at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Smith said that he was brought to this situation where he was forced to take this decision. Beau Webster was included in the playing 11 in the fifth test. Off-spinner Todd Murphy was dropped.

Australian captain Steve Smith said, “I also do not like playing without a spinner, but the kind of pitches that are being made where there is no possibility of spin and where only the cracks will play a role, then what option will the captain have.”

The role of spinners has been continuously decreasing in this series. Nathan Lyon was dropped from the Brisbane Test. Todd Murphy was dropped from the Sydney Test after Melbourne. At the same time, the England team also did not give a chance to their main spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Sydney Test. Bashir did not play in any test in this series.

Spinners lacked importance in the series

Steve Smith said that if the spinners do not get help on the pitch, they can score runs more quickly. This turns the match in favor of the opposing team. Smith said, “I like to see the spinners playing a role, but in the current conditions there is no concrete reason to bowl to them.”

The Sydney pitch was considered helpful for spinners, but the fast bowlers seem to be getting help there. There is a lot of talk on whether such pitches will not reduce the importance of spinners’ art in the game?

Rain spoiled the game on the first day

England had decided to bat first after winning the toss. After 3 wickets fell at 57, Joe Root (72) and Harry Brook (78) took charge of the innings and both remained unbeaten till the end of the day’s play. Let us tell you that due to rain only 45 overs were played on the first day. England has scored 211 runs after losing 3 wickets.

The fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England will start from January 4. The Australian team has already won the series, leading 3-1 after 4 matches. England coach Brendon McCullum is the target of critics for this poor performance. Even the demand to remove McCullum from the post of coach has gained momentum. But it seems as if the pride of English team captain Ben Stokes is still not broken.

Before the fifth Ashes Test to be held in Sydney, Ben Stokes said, “There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that Brendon and I are the best choices to take over the reins of the England team for the next some time. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have worked with Brendon McCullum. I don’t think there will be any other person with whom I can take this team beyond its current position.”

Brendon McCullum took over as the coach of the England Test team in May 2022. After he became the coach, the ‘Baseball Era’ of the England team started. The England team initially got success by playing in baseball style and in the year 2024, Brendon McCullum was appointed the coach of the England team in all three formats, but he took over the post of coach of England in all three formats in January 2025.

The pair of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum had won 10 out of the first 11 test matches, due to which the expectations of the fans also started increasing. But after that there has been discontinuity in the performance of the England team. In the last 34 Test matches, England have won 16 matches and lost the same number of matches, while 2 matches have ended in a draw.

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Australia’s legendary cricketer Usman Khawaja may soon break his silence on rumors of his retirement. A media report has revealed that Khawaja can react to the rumors of retirement in the press conference on Friday before the start of Australia vs England fifth Ashes Test (AUS vs ENG 5th Ashes Test).

Usman Khawaja has been in the headlines throughout the Ashes series. His performance in the last one year has not been very good. He got injured in the Perth Test against England, after which he was dropped from the Pink Ball Test played in Brisbane. Due to these reasons, speculations about Khawaja’s retirement had once again gained momentum.

Usman Khawaja will retire?

According to Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald, Usman Khawaja will hold a press conference on Friday. The Australian Cricket Board has not made any confirmation about this, but it is being speculated that he may break his silence on the news of his retirement. Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke, while talking to Code Sports, predicted that Khawaja is going to announce his retirement.

Ikeal Clarke has expressed hope that Usman Khawaja will end his career with good memories of playing a century innings. Australia has announced its squad for the fifth Ashes Test, in which Usman Khawaja has also been included. The team’s regular captain Pat Cummins has not been able to return. Steve Smith will captain the Australian team in the fifth test also.

Australia’s squad for the fifth test: Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

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