Ashes 2019: Ben Stokes called David Warner a 'F***ing prick'; Australians give it back

England looked favorites to win the fifth and final Test of Ashes 2019 at The Oval after grabbing a handsome first-innings lead. They ended up at 313 for 8 at stumps on Day 3 to take their overall lead to 382 over the visitors who are leading the series 2-1 at the moment. The third day, besides England’s dominating performance, also saw some ugly incidents on the field with Matthew Wade getting reprimanded by the umpire and Ben Stokes using some not-so-good language to describe David Warner in retaliation.

Australia’s fatigue was visible in the fifth Test for they are in England for four months now, having arrived ahead of the World Cup that started in May. The tense exchanges between Stokes and Warner also made evident the fact as the visitors struggled with their bat after having retained the urn. Australia won the first Test at Edgbaston by 251 runs and the fourth at Old Trafford by 185 runs. England won the third Test at Leeds by one wicket while the second game at Lord’s was drawn.

UK journalist Isabelle Westbury overheard Stokes calling the Australian cricketer a “F***ing prick” while getting off the field at lunch. Stump microphones later picked up one of the Australians saying “yeah, Bristol!” while the England all-rounder was batting, recalling the nightclub brawl controversy that he had found himself in 2017. Warner himself is playing his first Test series after March 2018 as he was banned with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft in the wake of the Sandpapergate scandal in South Africa.

On the other hand, Wade has been found chirping continuously throughout the series and umpire Marais Erasmus took a strong stand on the matter on Saturday. Stump microphones later picked up one of the Australians uttering “yeah, Bristol!” while Stokes was at the crease, a reference to the infamous incident at a Bristol nightclub in 2017.

Wade upset with umpire verdict on Stokes

Wade’s incessant chirping has been a concern throughout the series but umpire Marais Erasmus gave the veteran a rebuke about it on Saturday morning. The Australian was upset when umpire Kumar Dharmasena judged Stokes to have offered a shot on 54 even as the bowler, Marnus Labuschagne, came up with an animated appeal.

Chasing 399 runs to win, Australia were 68 for 3 at lunch on Day 4, with their hero of the series Smith still on the crease.