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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LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"It is more so his position. His position is prone to more criticism than most. "
53 seconds ago
Flow Basket replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"Sounds like an enjoyable watch kendoza it's no fun watching your future young players get belted .
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8 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"This has the 1995 eels v dogs at parra vibe. Dogs were expected to smash us but the eels got up 22-16 with a shit team. Woods and fawcett tore the dogs a new arshole. Lets hope history repeats"
29 minutes ago
EA replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"LB, MW, LE and offside are all correct. Plus compare Renzo too the other 20 year old halves in the nrl. Reed (dragons), Wood (dogs), Harrison (titans) and Rodwell (roosters). None of them have made their debuts. Obviously Woods is injured right now…"
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SuperEel 22 replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"That was COVID-specific due to the smaller playing pool"
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Longfin Eel replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"Surely they are fully aware of their development plans, and surely that doesn't include throwing the to the wolves this early in the season."
43 minutes ago
LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"I can definately understand Talataina though, being a 5/8 he will be heavily criticised. But is that Ryles also conceding we are no hope?"
49 minutes ago
LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"Will you put $10 on that? I want to see the bet slip."
50 minutes ago
LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"15-20 points? They kick a FG in that do they?"
51 minutes ago
LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"They have done that so sneakily. Didn't even know as Flegg is usually not that good. Once SG Ball is over they will be getting better with the likes of Petrus, Bamblett, Talagi, Koina and the likes coming up."
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LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
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Offside replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
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Offside replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
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HH - Love You Iongi Time! replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
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