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

JC replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's Sack !'s discussion Strong rumoured loan deal happening
"I didn't think I needed to explain it would be to play 6 as we definitely don't need a fullback. 
I knew straight away it was the mention of mon that got super and yourself to jump straight in and I make no apologies for criticising mon as I believe…"
8 minutes ago
Will 5150 replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"Holy crap... that made me laugh and cry at the same time. All I have ringing in my head is "sad but true"..."
21 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's Sack !'s discussion Strong rumoured loan deal happening
"I would say your right, but you obviously did not suggest that.....now nodding the head and saying WTF....if you could not have waited to get MON in the equation and explained your thinking  it may have stopped my negativity....I cannot speak for…"
22 minutes ago
Yehez replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"He can indeed. He can be a more "involved" winger sorta like Lomax was maybe sometimes. But Apa doesn't have metres out the back in him. We'll need Penisini and whoever is left center to do the work then. "
24 minutes ago
Eel4lyfe replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"Re-sign Apa, its simple. The kid has alot of raw talent. He plays whats in front of him and has a footy brain. He can play anywhere in the back line and is even big enough to play lock. Yes he has some errors in his game, but there is more up side…"
36 minutes ago
Parra fan on The Hill replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"If we lose Apa they all involvement in R&R need not be sacked but shot in the back of the head for crimes against Parra.
Apa should start for the remainder of the season either at wing/ centre fullback. All we have in the back line left is Brian…"
1 hour ago
JC replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's Sack !'s discussion Strong rumoured loan deal happening
"You do know he started in the halves right?, if you are going to knock someone's suggestion maybe it's a good idea to put some thought into it first. We need a 6 for next season and have very few options."
3 hours ago
Parraboy replied to Yeah Man's discussion Just Our Luck
"Would love to beat the titans & then smack these gronks. "
3 hours ago
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to Yeah Man's discussion Just Our Luck
"Doesn't Laundy owe a % of ch9 who inturn basically run NRL."
3 hours ago
JC replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's Sack !'s discussion Strong rumoured loan deal happening
"Read below numb nuts"
3 hours ago
Yehez replied to Yeah Man's discussion Just Our Luck
"We'll be at home and it'll be a good test for us. 
Let's beat the TItans first....."
3 hours ago
JC replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's Sack !'s discussion Strong rumoured loan deal happening
"He can play 6"
3 hours ago
Poppa replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's Sack !'s discussion Strong rumoured loan deal happening
"Shaking head and thinking WTF.....Lol...... come on Super we are down to our last 5 fullbacks."
3 hours ago
Yehez replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"You're not wrong of course and ideally I'd keep Twidle. But we have him, Papalii, Iongi, Bamblett and Davis who are all young. And Seuseu can play FB too.
The oldest one of those is 22 currently!
The club needs to plan it and find who plays where.…"
3 hours ago
The Badger replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"Maybe Rogers and or his team need to be changed. 
It appears they couldn't recruit an Incel to enter a free brothel."
4 hours ago
Muttman replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"If MON as Head of Football is not actively reviewing, assessing and ultimately steering the direction of the recrutiment program down to the individual player level then we are in even worse shape than I imagined. No one expects MON to be standing…"
4 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: 2288

 

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