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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fake midget pseudoachondroplasia replied to Richard Jackson's discussion Flegg win against Storm
"Some players need to get sacked from a club and risk losing it all before they really knuckle down and put in the work.  Why did he get sacked, was it lack of discipline for footy and training or off field issues?"
1 hour ago
Parraboy replied to Richard Jackson's discussion Flegg win against Storm
"Nah I didn't watch the game I don't have too watch one game for my statement to be made I've seen enough in 2 years. His overrated"
2 hours ago
LB replied to EA's discussion Your Line up for next week?
"I love Twidle, you can just tell he is not a robotic NRL player, he plays with instincts. Not saying he is Munster, but Munster plays the same. Apa gets the ball, looks to see what is infront of him and says "Let's try this". That can be dangerous…"
2 hours ago
DYNASTY.LOADING replied to EA's discussion Your Line up for next week?
"Iongi
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Smith
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Kautoga
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Twidle

 
I thought I posted this earlier including explanations but…"
3 hours ago
TolEllts replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Hopgood 2 week ban,
"I think the team should just try and focused on completing their sets and be aware of the NRLbias against them. It will be hard, I know, but hipefully they can make 'clean' tackles and find a way of controlling the ruck. Our forwards should be…"
3 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to EA's discussion Your Line up for next week?
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3 hours ago
DYNASTY.LOADING replied to EA's discussion Your Line up for next week?
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3 hours ago
LB replied to EA's discussion Your Line up for next week?
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4 hours ago
LB replied to EA's discussion Your Line up for next week?
"Yep agree. Though clubs like Canberra and Brisbane do it and did well, i just do not like it. I don't mind doing what BA did in between 2020-2022, where he would have Mahoney play 80 each week but then around Round 8-10 he would bring in like…"
4 hours ago
LB replied to EA's discussion Your Line up for next week?
"Ok it is a Saturday night and im bored. I'll have a turn, pick the team i would pick, nor that anyone cares. Hopgood suspended in mind too.
1. Iongi
2. Simonsson
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4 hours ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Hopgood 2 week ban,
"Well put it this way, Brisbane are under way more pressure than us. Brisbane being in a one team town, the biggest fan base in the comp, reigning premiers, Haas leaving for Souths and Reynolds retiring despite saying a month prior he was keen to…"
4 hours ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Hopgood 2 week ban,
"Agree LB, both.
And to Coryns point, to win in Melbourne, you need to be perfect - and you need to be given a fair chance.
We've seen it too many times, if the Storm are allowed a different playing field, they will destroy you. 
Haha that's still…"
5 hours ago
EA replied to Richard Jackson's discussion Flegg win against Storm
"Did you watch the game?"
5 hours ago
Joel K replied to EA's discussion Your Line up for next week?
"Probably just the titans "
5 hours ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Hopgood 2 week ban,
"Great points as usual NOS. When you lose by 48 points that is on you. But also, the issues from the refs made us fatigue and weakened us. The Iongi HIA weakened us as it forced Ryles to put Joash on when in hindsight he didn't really need to, but we…"
5 hours ago
Eli Stephens replied to Eli Stephens's discussion 6 moreeee
"You definitely like to see teams earn their yards and wrestle points. Not just be marched up the field with 6 more every set. Needs to be a balance "
5 hours ago
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