Ben Stokes and Marnus Labuschagne had a heated exchange on day two of SCG Test.
The incident involving the England captain and Australia's No. 3 occurred during the third and final session of Day 2 of the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with the duo exchanging verbal barbs before Stokes placed his hand around Labuschagne's shoulder.
Stokes had the last laugh when he bowled Labuschagne, forcing the batter to walk back to the dressing room after reaching 48 runs. The right-hander looked solid, forging a consistent partnership with Travis Head. Stokes did, however, get under his skin, forcing an unexpected false shot.
After taking his wicket, Stokes gave Labuschagne a death gaze and didn't say much, knowing he had done the job against the odds.
Stuart Broad talked with Ben Stokes before the start of day three’s play in the SCG Test and revealed what really went down between the England captain and Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne.
“I think it was a mistake from Marnus Labuschagne, to be honest, to rev up Ben Stokes, one of the great competitors of all time, really, and Stokes had the ball in his hand. I think there was a bit of a delaying tactic. I think Labuschagne was maybe talking quite a bit out there, particularly to Travis Head, his partner,” said Broad on 7Cricket.
“I've chatted to Stokes this morning. I'm not breaking any trust by saying this. It was Marnus who was saying, "Oh, that's going down a leg," or "That's four runs," and he said, "We've got two umpires out here; we don't need three." So it was all quite polite, but what happens is, it got Labuschagne out of his bubble, and that's a plan of England: get him out of routines, and the next ball Ben Stokes bowls, he drives at one that's a bit wide, moves away, and he's out,” he added.
Additionally, Broad didn't hold back when he criticized Labuschagne for "poor play" by losing focus and getting into a heated argument.
“It sort of worked for England, for Ben Stokes to get into that competitive spirit, but I thought it was a poor play from Marnus, because Marnus was playing as nicely as he had done in the series,” said Broad.
Meanwhile, in reply to England’s 384 runs, Australia has amassed 518/7 at stumps on day three, thanks to 163 by Travis Head and 129* by Steve Smith.