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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parra supporter replied to LB's discussion Eels say Lomax is not going anywhere for season 2026
"Mon said he currently has a contract with us- this could change soon particularly since we've said tn the past we wouldn't stand in his way"
1 hour ago
Poupou Escobar replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion Lomax Gone
"Outside backs in Flegg are by definition 'average'. Maybe if they're still 18 or 19 and playing Flegg they might have potential, but really they should be playing reserve grade at least by that age. Outside backs mature much earlier than forwards…"
5 hours ago
Sonic Boom replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion Lomax Gone
"Trace Beattie.  Also that looks like new training kit?"
5 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to LB's discussion Eels say Lomax is not going anywhere for season 2026
"Nah...Thanks"
5 hours ago
EA replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion Lomax Gone
"Yea worked really hard. Just too many players in front of him blocking his path I recon.  He needs to really beef up though.
whose account did you see it on?"
7 hours ago
EA replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion Lomax Gone
"Yea our JF outside backs are shit. They will soon be out of the club. Our fullbacks depth insane. Never heard of the bloke. Don't really pay attention to anything below HM. "
7 hours ago
Johnny Suede replied to LB's discussion Eels say Lomax is not going anywhere for season 2026
"Do you need a cut n paste? "
7 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to LB's discussion Eels say Lomax is not going anywhere for season 2026
"cheers Johnny"
7 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Do Parramatta only have 24/30 players tied to 2026
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Randy Handlinger replied to Eelawarra's discussion RYLES REVEALS WHY HE SIGNED PEZET FOR ONE YEAR
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Randy Handlinger replied to Hell On Eels's discussion The Jonah Pezet Deal: An Optical Illusion?
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7 hours ago
Johnny Suede replied to LB's discussion Eels say Lomax is not going anywhere for season 2026
7 hours ago
Sonic Boom replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion Lomax Gone

i saw a post of some of the flegg boys farewelling Will Lewis. Looks like he's on the move. Sad, he was one of my favourites "
7 hours ago
Sonic Boom replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion Lomax Gone
"Yep if it was me that would be my back 5 to start in ball. Our outside backs in Flegg look average. Crazy the amount of FB depth we have though considering Joash, Twidle, Bamblett, Davis. I've also heard good things about Lorima Seuseu who will be…"
7 hours ago
Poppa replied to Hell On Eels's discussion The Jonah Pezet Deal: An Optical Illusion?
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Poppa replied to Hell On Eels's discussion The Jonah Pezet Deal: An Optical Illusion?
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