Ben Stokes erupts at Australia star Marnus Labuschagne in F-bomb tirade

Despite the Ashes being out of reach for another series, there’s still fire within Ben Stokes.

As day two of the fifth Test in Sydney neared its end, Stokes was involved in a heated clash with Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne.

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Stokes had just been smacked to the boundary twice by Aussie opener Travis Head, but at the end of the over, he turned his attention towards Labuschagne.

With day two drawing to a close, Labuschagne appeared to complain about bad light and may have wanted an early end to proceedings.

But Stokes, evidently keen to play on, disagreed.

Stokes issued a few words of frustration towards Labuschagne, who replied with some of his own.

Initially Stokes was content to walk away and appeared to mouth: “Shut the f*** up.”

But whatever Labuschagne had to say stopped the England skipper dead in his tracks and lured him back in.

He then wrapped his arm around the back of Labuschagne’s neck and gave him a slight push in the arm.

Stokes had the last laugh as he dismissed Labuschagne for 48 in the dying stages of day two when the Aussie tried to play a wide delivery but edged it towards gully.

Despite Stokes snaring Labuschagne’s wicket, he could find himself in hot water from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

If he is to do so, it would likely fall under Article 2.12 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘inappropriate physical contact with a player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an international match.’

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The rules state ‘any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket’ and they can be breached should a player ‘deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another player or umpire.’

Although some pundits felt there was nothing wrong with some added heat out in the middle, Australian women’s cricket captain Alyssa Healy pondered why Stokes hadn’t shown this type of fight when the series was still in the balance.

“Where’s it been?” Healy said on Fox Cricket.

“This is what we expect in an Ashes series generally. None of that sort of situation, but a bit of spice, a bit of heat, a bit of frustration at times and it probably reflects the series for England so far.

“It’s been a frustrating one, in particular for someone like Ben Stokes. It came out in that situation but you want to see that.

“You want to see the passion, you want to see the aggression and this is what Marnus Labuschagne lives for. He’s more than happy to get under the opposition’s skin in any way he can.”

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Australia were 2/166 at the end of day two thanks to an unbeaten 91 from Head.

The hosts trail England by 218 runs courtesy of a barnstorming knock from Joe Root, who blasted his second century of the series.

Root chalked up 160 runs before he was caught and bowled by Michael Neser in what was just his second century on Australian soil, having never done so previously.

Australia lead the series 3-1.