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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Randy Handlinger replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Official Club Statement: Parramatta Eels commence legal proceedings against Zac Lomax
"With talks at an impasse, the NRL has indicated it is prepared to i...
and
Anasta also questioned the involvement of NRL bosses who this week ...
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1 minute ago
Poupou Escobar replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"Bring him home: Under 20s Eels make a splash at 2014 NRL Rookie Camp | Eels"
46 minutes ago
Poupou Escobar replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"Agreed. he would solve our looming (from 2027) halves conundrum. People don't like him because he's a merkin, but that merkin can play."
48 minutes ago
Muttman replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"Not if he was free "
1 hour ago
Blue Eel replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"I'd take Burton in a heart beat. Knock knock Mr Gould have you ever met Zac."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"Stick Kamikamica up your arse. Hahahha"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"Hasn't he agreed to go back to Brisbane in 2027?"
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Official Club Statement: Parramatta Eels commence legal proceedings against Zac Lomax
"Melbourne took my best wool"
1 hour ago
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"How's the knitting going?"
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"We need to put this to bed and settle for tui kamikamica 
 "
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Official Club Statement: Parramatta Eels commence legal proceedings against Zac Lomax
"and that's when we hit open conflict with the NRL"
1 hour ago
The Badger replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"Probably because the Dolphins don't want to let him go (according to Fox)"
1 hour ago
Longfin Eel replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Official Club Statement: Parramatta Eels commence legal proceedings against Zac Lomax
"It would be interesting to see what the NRL would have to say if this was the other way round and Parra were the club trying to sign a player who still had contractual ties to another club. I suspect they would make life very difficult for us."
1 hour ago
Muttman replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"Why not Cobbo? "
1 hour ago
Adam Magrath replied to Johnny Suede's discussion What player each NRL club would need to cough-up to snare Lomax
"Strictly off that list, id be happy with AJ Brimson"
2 hours ago
Adam Magrath replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Official Club Statement: Parramatta Eels commence legal proceedings against Zac Lomax
"That's something id imagine is outside the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. "
2 hours ago
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ANY MORE SIGNINGS???

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