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.

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Latest comments

Prof. Daz replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"Ooh, can I help? So, Chiefy wants Daniel Anderson back as GM so the Eels can go spoon, 10th, 12th? Oh yeah, also so that the Eels can breach the salary cap, get fined half a million, and get docked competition points. 
Please, Chiefy, we would all…"
2 minutes ago
Prof. Daz replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"I thought Su'A plays right edge backrow?"
12 minutes ago
Angry Eel replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"3m is nothing to spend on your spine. Melbourne have been paying closer to 4 prior to Pap leaving "
23 minutes ago
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"They've over paid on more than a few."
29 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to EA's discussion What is your NSW team?
"Les than 5% of fans would give Mark o'neill a pass mark
If you don't believe me, start a new blog with the headline,  would you give mark o'neill a pass mark and why?
No, im saying the players you want to keep, should never reach November 1,…"
43 minutes ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"Well Anderson is Head of recruitment. MON is GM. Two different roles.
So shouldn't you be asking who do we prefer out of Anderson and Rogers?"
43 minutes ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"For less money? He signed for $600k. Would you have paid a player with 24 NRL games experience that much straight away?"
52 minutes ago
LB replied to EA's discussion What is your NSW team?
" Calling it “fake news” and saying I’m giving Mark O’Neill a pass doesn’t change the fact that contract negotiations involve two sides, not one.
Tuivaiti is already signed, Guymer was not so he took the priority for the mean time for our squad.…"
54 minutes ago
WMD replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"Lol!"
1 hour ago
Adam Magrath replied to Poppa's discussion Speed, Power, Athlelicism.... Not Specifically Size......these are the key areas that are emerging under these rules that have been forced on teams.
"Plyometrics, to the best of my knowledge there's only so much that can be done to enhance explosive power, unfortunately the composition of your muscles (fast twitch/slow twitch) is what you're born with."
1 hour ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Poppa's discussion Speed, Power, Athlelicism.... Not Specifically Size......these are the key areas that are emerging under these rules that have been forced on teams.
"Just have a look at how sides are built Pops.
Roosters have a look at there foward pack and size of there pack and athleticism especially.They've definitely targeted a type size and atheltically.
Canberra Brisbane even the Dogs less the power but…"
1 hour ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"See the key with Newcastle isn't Holbrook like everyone is suggesting I think it's Peter O'Sullivan he's giving Holbrook the tools.He was at the Dolphins before that and your seeing similarities with the roster build the guy knows talent and how to…"
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to EA's discussion What is your NSW team?
"Is Guymer replicable  = of course 
Is sam tuivaiti replicable  - fk no
There's your answer "
1 hour ago
Perpetual Motion replied to Joel K's discussion Ryles on 2gb
"Yep, says one thing, does another."
1 hour ago
Perpetual Motion replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"Newcastle are 8th. We are 14th.
Trey Mooney was a no brainer. Better then Thompson for less money."
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"Let me tell you something Super,  without a great jnr system and having the person's in charge to identify and sign the best ones long term, Parramatta will be bottom 4 for the next decade.   
The club isn't going to buy itself out of this.
Also, by…"
2 hours ago
More…

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.

Read more…
14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
Views: 2418

 

Metcalf Dragons bound.

Bulldogs have pulled out of the race for Metcalf and his asking price is around 1 million dollars. Dragons most likely spot but to get him immediately I wonder if this means they will allow Sua to join us early to free up cap space to get Metcalf…

Read more…
27 Replies · Reply by Prof. Daz 2 minutes ago
Views: 753

Sualauvi Faalogo

I could of sworn this bloke failed a HIA last weekend. but he's allowed to play against us this week. what happened to the 10 day rest thingy???? I heard he had a fractured cheekbone. This has hurt my SuperCoach side immensely. you just know he'll…

Read more…
3 Replies · Reply by Flow Basket 20 hours ago
Views: 732

<script src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Sidebar -->
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<script>// <![CDATA[
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
// ]]></script>