Ashes Third Test, Headingley

Australia lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test at Edgbaston and drawing at Lord's.

The Aussies will be without former captain and the best batsman in the world after Steve Smith was ruled out with concussion following a Jofra Archer bouncer that struck him on the neck in his first innings at Lord's.

Marnus Labuschagne is expected to fill Smith's spot like he did at Lord's when he entered the fray as Test cricket's first ever concussion substitute where he scored an admirable 59 runs, helping to steer Australia to a draw on the final day.

It's expected that Peter Siddle will drop out of the side to allow for the return of James Pattinson who was rested for the second Test. Mitchell Starc seems destined to remain on drinks duty.

England meanwhile are expected to name an unchanged 11 although they may tinker with the make up of the batting order. Joe Root has struggled at first drop, while Jason Roy has failed to make the switch from opening in the ODI team to becoming a Test opener. Root is expected to move down to four with Joe Denly jumping into the number three position.

Many are talking about the effect of Jofra Archer's entry into Test cricket. Interestingly, his debut performance lands him as just the 312th best bowler on debut with overall figures of 5/91. He need only look across at his opponents in Pat Cummins (7/117) and Josh Hazlewood (7/142) who had better debut figures.

The Headingley pitch is rumoured to be a slow deck that will crumble and break up towards the end of the match. An interesting decision by the ground staff there given Australia's Nathan Lyon has been collecting wickets for fun and spun the English into knots in the first Test.

As always the toss will be important and Tim Paine will be hoping his luck continues. This will likely be a bat first pitch because no one will be looking to bat last on a decaying deck.

Play starts at 8pm AEST tonight so get your picture-in-picture going or set up a second screen to make sure you don't miss the first ball while watching the Eels belt the Dogs.

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The Captain replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"I admire the passion mate, but petitions don't work, and we don't want to demand blind change for changes sake...we have to put forward what that fresh direction could be.
Put your ideas up here - this place is pretty well read by many in the know…"
39 minutes ago
Yehez replied to Roy tannous's discussion Spirits crushed
"Who are they missing then? Just Douehi and Bula?"
45 minutes ago
Seraph replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"True true... I guess when Moses inevitably asks to be released, Jake automatically slots in"
53 minutes ago
LB replied to Roy tannous's discussion Spirits crushed
"Love how you say Tigers full strength when they had Api, Luai and Madden (the messiah) in their halves. Had nearly 50 put on them."
56 minutes ago
The Captain replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"You don't put a Grand Final scoring half as your backup. Jake would be Captain. Possibly Co-Captain with Matt."
1 hour ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Iongi playing in NSW Cup today - some positive news
"Not sure Will is back"
1 hour ago
The Captain replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"There's only one name we would consider. The greatest coach, our national coach.
Come on down Kevvie Walters. He'll make Kearney look like Wayne Bennett. 
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1 hour ago
Seraph replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"With JAC released to put Sivo back on the wing"
1 hour ago
Michael W. replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"I'm willing to wait and see how we perform once we get some of our cattle back. Having a spine intact makes a big difference, Melbourne showed that you can have 3 or 4 players missing, but if your spine is on you have a far better chance. Broncos…"
1 hour ago
Michael W. replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"Yeh, that's what Kenty said when asked. He did say this will be Bellamy's last year. If Ryles does go, we are stuffed, there is no one available, none that the 1Eyed fraternity would be happy with. We need this sorted sooner rather than later,…"
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LB replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"Gutho on a walking frame to be 18th man incase of emergency."
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LB replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"The reason Ryles was mentioned was Melbourne might want someone who has been in the system already and knows most of the players. Craig wants his son Aaron to take over i believe. Nepotism at it's finest. But they have some names there.
Ryan…"
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Seraph replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"Maybe BA can make a return... With him comes Jake and Matt, so back up half and hooker problems are solved!"
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Zip zip replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"Easily bottom 2-3 worst roster in the competition. Take away Moses, and I would go as far as as to say we have the worst roster in the competition. How does a new team like the Dolphins assemble a better rosters than us? We would kill to have what…"
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The Captain replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"Double edged sword following on from Bellamy. At least at the Eels if Ryles doesn't turn things around he can say "well, no coach can fix that joint". Going to the Storm whilst they're on the slide could be career suicide."
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Brett Kenny Fanclub replied to Sneaky Pete's discussion What we need.
"Seriously all the conjecture, posits and postulates continue to ignore the bloody obvious. We don't have the cattle. The forwards lack presence, we have no strike in the backs and our defence is an absolute disgrace. It's no more and no less.…"
2 hours ago
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