Ben Stokes, the England captain, visibly lost his composure after being dismissed by Mitchell Starc on the third day of the ongoing Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval. Stokes' frustration was evident as he walked off the field, having been clean bowled by a Starc inswinger.

The dismissal occurred during England's first innings, with Stokes putting up a resilient fight against the Australian bowlers. England's top and middle order had collapsed, leaving Stokes to lead a recovery. He formed a 106-run partnership with Jofra Archer, with Archer also reaching his half-century. However, Starc intervened, dismissing Stokes for the 12th time in Test matches.

Starc's delivery was a perfect nip-backer that breached the gap between Stokes' bat and pad, ultimately hitting the stumps. Stokes, unable to assess the ball's movement, had attempted to play it on the off-side.

Immediately after the dismissal, Stokes reacted with visible anger, jumping and tossing his bat before heading back to the dressing room. He was also seen muttering words to himself, highlighting his disappointment. Stokes' dismissal marked the 12th time Starc had taken his wicket in Test cricket, placing Starc among the top bowlers to dismiss Stokes in this format.

This incident is not the first time Stokes's reaction to a dismissal has been noted. In a 2019 match, he kicked his bat in frustration after Starc bowled him with a yorker. Similarly, in 2020, Stokes apologized for using abusive language towards a spectator after being dismissed in a Test against South Africa. In 2015, Stokes spoke out after a controversial dismissal against Australia, where he was given out for obstructing the field, claiming he was merely trying to protect himself.

The dismissal of Jamie Smith, another English player, during the same Ashes series also stirred controversy, with Stokes expressing his displeasure toward the umpires after Snicko technology was used to adjudge Smith caught behind.