The Ashes: Ben Stokes tells Marnus Labuschagne to ‘shut the f..k up’ in fiery clash in Sydney Test

England’s grumpy captain Ben Stokes had a fiery clash with Australian star Marnus Labuschagne as his team crumbled yet again in the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

Stokes was seen putting his arm around Labuschagne during the tense final session of play at the SCG on Monday, but it wasn’t all friendly between the antagonistic pair.

Labuschagne had riled up Stokes by pulling away from the stumps as he ran in to bowl and had exchanged words with the England skipper after clipping him away for a boundary.

Stokes was clearly frustrated as he turned to spray Labuschagne and appeared to tell him to “shut the f..k up, before doubling back to put his arm around the Queenslander. Aussie batsman Travis Head — who is nearing a third century in the series — was a bewildered bystander.

The New Zealand-born Pom held up two and then three fingers to Labuschagne, likely a reference to him pulling away from deliveries.

Labuschagne’s long-time teammate Michael Neser said Labuschagne “has a knack” of getting under the skin of opponents.

“I think it’s just the fact he’s such a strong competitor and he can get under your skin, so it’s just Marnus I guess,” he said post-play.

Australia’s women’s captain Alyssa Healy said England should have shown that sort of passion from the start of the series, which they have lost resoundingly.

“Where’s it been,” she told 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.”

Australia got the last laugh after the second day, despite Joe Root scoring his second century of the series.

England made a first-innings score of 384, but on an excellent pitch for batting, that appears to be too few. Australia finished the day 2-166 with Head on 91 and at the cusp of yet another big score.

Root was finally dismissed by Neser on 160 after a marathon batting effort. His second century of the series is also his second-ever in Australia and draws him level with former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting on 41 and in equal third-place for the most hundreds of all time.

Labuschagne was also involved in the other flashpoint of day two, where batting wicketkeeper Jamie Smith — one of England’s biggest Ashes flops saved his worst effort for last and played a shot slammed as one of the “dumbest” ever seen in Test cricket.

Smith’s horror tour reached a new low when he was dismissed by part-timer Labuschagne in an embarrassing brain fade.

Smith hit a shocking bouncer from Labuschagne — which he could have struck to any part of the ground, or left completely — straight into the hands of Scott Boland.

The woeful shot, where he stepped away from his stumps to slash at the ball, was to a part of the ground where there were three Australian fielders in the deep ready to take the catch.

Former Australian legend, coach and The West Australian columnist Justin Langer lashed Smith over the soft dismissal.

Remarkably, it was the second time Smith had picked out a fielder. He should have been dismissed when he hit a ball to cover in the first session, but bowler Cam Green had overstepped and was called for a no ball.

“What I do know is not for the first time this series, Jamie Smith has played one of the dumbest shots you’ll ever see in Test cricket,” Langer told Channel 7’s coverage.

“He was lucky earlier he had a very soft dismissal off a no ball to Cameron Green and Test cricket goes for five days. Dumb cricket.

“It’s an important wicket for Australia in this Test.”

Another WA legend Simon Katich poked fun at England’s BazBall bluster and joked Smith would get “pats on the back for taking the game on” when he returned to the dressing room.