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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Michael W. replied to Angry Eel's discussion Clayton Faulaulo
"Chief, your obsession with MON is consuming you. You eat, sleep, drink and probably masturbate to MON. You probably have a room filled with MON memorabilia, and a pentagram, or in your case a MONagram, just so you can try and do some weird shit with…"
12 minutes ago
Parrafan101 replied to Angry Eel's discussion Clayton Faulaulo
"Mate don't forget Captain Ben Roger's too."
1 hour ago
Parrafan101 replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"They better be elite, if they another club doesn't want them type im gonna go ahead and sit myself out for the 27 season."
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"We'll see if they can get more signings over the line. In just going off what's happened previously. "
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"*2025"
1 hour ago
Blue Eel replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"I'm hoping Chiefy that some of the suggestions can hit the mark. For one the club must return to being open and transparent. Admit failings and improve them on the same token Celebrate the wins in recruitment and shout them loud and proud.…"
2 hours ago
Blue Eel replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"LB, I don't really want to get into who to sign , who to keep. I'm more trying to attack it from the angle, If Ryles wants them in the first place, then I trust that judgement. My concern is and has been are we able to sign whom has been identified…"
2 hours ago
Blue Eel replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"And that's what we need Parraboy. To improve the roster, to put to bed (my thoughts on missing targets) and to shut us fans up. All of us would love nothing more, would be my guess. I'm hoping your right."
2 hours ago
Parraboy replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"no shoot and hope. 
youz will be happy, trust me
it's about time "
2 hours ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"Brown will.be better but im unsure what the issue is. When.i saw Brown.in.pre season,  he was training the house down and beating guys like Tuivaiti in the runs. I haven't seen what's been happening in reserve grade. 
Ryles proved last year what he…"
2 hours ago
LB replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"Chief, can i please ask as i am curious and not being smart. What is it about Ryles that you support so highly compared to BA who you despised?
You mention debuting Pryke and Mataele, referring to if that is the best we have that is pathetic. Well…"
2 hours ago
LB replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"Right, so Jason Ryles doesn't care either since he hired the trainer?"
2 hours ago
LB replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"Hope or intel?"
2 hours ago
Parraboy replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"look all i'm gna say is we will be happy with a couple big signings soon. "
2 hours ago
LB replied to Angry Eel's discussion Clayton Faulaulo
"But that’s exactly my point if it’s “not about first grade”, then why are people carrying on like we’ve lost some future superstar already?
Pathways discussion is one thing. Actual impact on the NRL side is another.
Right now Faulalo looks like a…"
2 hours ago
LB replied to Angry Eel's discussion Clayton Faulaulo
"If you are not talking FG then what are we talking about with Faulalo? If you are not referring to him in FG what is the point of talking about him?"
3 hours ago
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