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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JC replied to LB's discussion 1EE All-time Eels team: Wingers
"I wasn't having a go at you pop and I don't think you took it that way but I, like many couldn't possibly vote for thornett because we never witnessed his apparent brilliance. 
I'm sure in 40years time we will be having the same argument with the…"
39 minutes ago
JC replied to Parra_Greg's discussion PARRAMATTA EELS 1986
"The eels had a few injuries in 85 but yeas i think the panthers are winning it again this year."
45 minutes ago
Colin Good replied to Parra_Greg's discussion PARRAMATTA EELS 1986
"Well Cario , looks like mrs ALBANESE "
56 minutes ago
Hector Bob Down replied to LB's discussion 1EE All-time Eels team: Wingers
"Agree Colin"
1 hour ago
Colin Good replied to LB's discussion 1EE All-time Eels team: Wingers
"Jarryd made bad decisions by leaving parra and thinking he could make it in the U S "
1 hour ago
Colin Good replied to LB's discussion 1EE All-time Eels team: Wingers
"What a winger was Billy Boston but the league teams of the French in the fifties were wonderful entertainers than came the English teams of the sixties and seventies and so on "
1 hour ago
Parra_Greg replied to Parra_Greg's discussion PARRAMATTA EELS 1986
"hahaha"
1 hour ago
Colin Good replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Start Walking ?? Crazy times coming
"Tony Abbott was the only conservative government and the wets moderates got rid of him for a socialist liberal P M and Morrison was a dud that couldn't wait to get to Paris to sign up up for the Paris agreement on net zero ,a socialist program "
2 hours ago
CarloEEL2 replied to Parra_Greg's discussion PARRAMATTA EELS 1986
"Well that sucks lol"
2 hours ago
CarloEEL2 replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Hilarious stuff on Fox
"Yeh 
he did seem esp nervous "
2 hours ago
Acme replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Hilarious stuff on Fox
"Exactly.
To be fair, he's young and possibly went "off script" a bit, trying to be funny in an informal interview."
2 hours ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Start Walking ?? Crazy times coming
"Australia's fuel excise is a federal tax on petrol and diesel, currently sitting at over 50 cents per litre (52.6 cpl as of early 2026
You think you're government is bad
 "
2 hours ago
LB replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Hilarious stuff on Fox
"Yeah i can understant that. He could have said got a great opportunity to develop my game while the club develops their juniors. Or a season to play with Rylesy or Mitch."
2 hours ago
Acme replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Hilarious stuff on Fox
"Yeah! He definitely didn't appreciate that comment.
Pretty silly thing to say. I haven't warmed to guy in any way. I usually come around to players joining from other clubs, but with Jonah, nothing.... "
2 hours ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Start Walking ?? Crazy times coming
"Our fuel is heavily taxed 44% of the pump price goes straight into the government coffers.Even then the oil companies are still making money hand over fist."
3 hours ago
CarloEEL2 replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Hilarious stuff on Fox
"Did you see Moses face when pezet said I had to find somewhere to play footy ??
it was almost imperceptible but he didn't rate it 🤔
which is what I would expect from our captain 🙌🏻🙌🏻"
3 hours ago
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Keaon done deal

As of Thursday, December 11, 2025, South Sydney Rabbitohs forwardKeaon Koloamatangi has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Parramatta Eels, but it is not yet officially announced by the clubs.  Soon to be announced.

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14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
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PARRAMATTA EELS 1986

I know its early ...but Penrith at them moment remind me so much of the Eels that won everything in 86 after a lacklustre 85 where we lost to Saints in the Prelim .....Gosh they will be hard to beat this year Penrith ...

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4 Replies · Reply by JC 45 minutes ago
Views: 101

1EE All-time Eels team: Wingers

Ok so Jarryd Hayne has beaten out Ken Thornett for the first spot in this team.   Now onto Wingers where one player is a guaranteed, i have added the 2 winners from modern day with another nominee. Jeez i wonder who one of them is???  …

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41 Replies · Reply by JC 39 minutes ago
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