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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Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Daley “Moses injury is so minor he could probably play for Parra this weekend”
"Whys that',  we're like 10000 to one to make the 8 .  Whats the difference between 10th and 15th"
2 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Kent: "Players Revolt & Ref Turmoil"; A Ticking Time Bomb?
"The game is becoming unwatchable. The nrl is rigged its as simple as that. All these gambling like sportsbet etc always on ads basically ramming it down your throat. Its just not the same anymore the nrl everytime a try is scored fans get nervous…"
18 minutes ago
Gucci replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Daley “Moses injury is so minor he could probably play for Parra this weekend”
"I don't get the issues with minor strains and Daley saying he knows origin and you need to be ready at all times in the interview. You picked a fucken centre with one arm... two forwards at are paying $1.05 to be concussed within the first 5min of…"
19 minutes ago
Hell On Eels replied to Hell On Eels's discussion V'landyball: The Momentum Wars
"Appreciate the kind words, Pops. You're a good man.
Just for clarity, I can't take any credit for the phrase "Death Zone". I first heard it from Reni Maitua who got it from coaching circles. It just labelled clear patterns of momentum I was…"
20 minutes ago
Flow Basket replied to Adam Hayne's discussion Will Penisini Gone
"Adams blog is about Will"
26 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Adam Hayne's discussion Will Penisini Gone
"Guy who made the word "Scapegoating" the official 1EE catchphrase informs me that I am tedious...roger that.
...,and yeah, I think I can be funny. I know I miss more than I hit, it's the nature of the beast, but I am one of the few posters left who…"
35 minutes ago
Prof. Daz replied to Adam Hayne's discussion Will Penisini Gone
"Randy, you spliced together something. I said with something NOS said, so there is nothing to answer, unless you want NOS and I to fuse into one?
You still think your attributions are funny but they're not only arr they just tedious, they permit you…"
44 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Adam Hayne's discussion Will Penisini Gone
"Dude, you've been quite prissy at me for employing sarcastic irony in my replies...I wonder why it's a dying art?
Sarcasm is a valid & useful tool for communication & humour when not overused.
 "
53 minutes ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Daley “Moses injury is so minor he could probably play for Parra this weekend”
"Dean Ritchie saying it's worse than feared, what a flog."
54 minutes ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Daley “Moses injury is so minor he could probably play for Parra this weekend”
"I think King's bday is possible. But also, if NSW lose game I, Daley is picking him again. Would be great to have him v Canberra. "
54 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Signing predictions !
"Exactly JC. Saying we got him cheap could be anything. Cheap for NRL standards or Halfback standards? Two different brackets."
56 minutes ago
LB replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Kent: "Players Revolt & Ref Turmoil"; A Ticking Time Bomb?
"That 80% thought that is telling. The fact it is now that V'Landys will be CEO as well is telling. He can be great but needs someone to call him out too. That's why I wanted Ikin as CEO.
But how Annersley is still the boss of the referees is telling…"
58 minutes ago
Jack Eelson replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Daley “Moses injury is so minor he could probably play for Parra this weekend”
"You can tell how badly the media wanted him to be hurt for as long as possible to hurt the Eels. "
1 hour ago
Prof. Daz replied to Adam Hayne's discussion Will Penisini Gone
"NOS, you're totally correct. Now if only sarcasm wasn't such a dying art on 1EE we might be able to discuss the import of the sarcasm!
PS: data is data, what we make of it is another matter, but I'm on record in the pre-season as saying our backline…"
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Kent: "Players Revolt & Ref Turmoil"; A Ticking Time Bomb?
"I don't like Ugly Petes track record...That's not bias, it's an assessment...like your Dementia
So you are telling me you are an easily excitable child who is super  thrilled by WWE & squeals with glee after every try (you never can have too…"
1 hour ago
Mitchy replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Daley “Moses injury is so minor he could probably play for Parra this weekend”
"Agreed Eli, its more a strain on us supporters."
1 hour ago
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