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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Parrafan101 replied to Davos Seaworth's discussion Stephen Kearney vibes from Gomer Ryles.
"If Ryles had the players he wanted we would have been firing on all cylinders. But since we can't sign anyone to improve the other players around them, stick around for more false flags like this."
34 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to EA's discussion Take Aways from the game
"Troy Pezet played in the late 80s dopey.  Its Jonah Pezet.   
What's next, do you really think Moses parted the Red Sea ???"
34 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to EA's discussion Take Aways from the game
"Cmon brother.  Do you expect us to be in the contest with that amount of handing errors  
People shouldn't be talking about referees or anything else until the team fix up.the total bs we saw on Friday   
Wake up to yourselves everyone who thinks…"
35 minutes ago
Parrafan101 replied to LB's discussion Izack Tago dropped to bench for Penrith
"His carries wiill help us, we need something better than Simmo honestly. Put Russell on the wing and Fox on the other."
36 minutes ago
LB replied to EA's discussion Take Aways from the game
"Twidle demonstrates cockiness but the good kind. He would come into FG and just feel happy to play footy. Both add energy and spark, something we don't have in halves. The only glaring issue, defence seems to need work. Twidle i understand since…"
39 minutes ago
Parrafan101 replied to Eels2025's discussion Does anyone have hope for the rest of the season?
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47 minutes ago
LB replied to EA's discussion Take Aways from the game
"Remember HOE a great Melbourne is great for tv deal. No corruption or manipulation here, move on."
50 minutes ago
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to Eels2025's discussion Does anyone have hope for the rest of the season?
"Something isn't right in that team. "
2 hours ago
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to Muttman's discussion Silver linings
"Madge will be out for some blood, strap yourself in, this might get ugly."
2 hours ago
Coryn Hughes replied to EA's discussion Take Aways from the game
"Yep this is correct throw in the errors also and this is losing footy.
Take in who and where your playing basically it's like digging the hole and Melbourne go thank you and cover the hole up with dirt.That's 24 years in a row round 1 victories…"
4 hours ago
Coryn Hughes replied to EA's discussion Take Aways from the game
"Leave them where they are I think EA there's no point throwing them in there now just let the  2 continue to develop and build there games.Hopefully what we are seeing is a potential halves pairing 2-3 years down the track.
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4 hours ago
Coryn Hughes replied to LB's discussion Reflection questions
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5 hours ago
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5 hours ago
Joel K replied to LB's discussion Izack Tago dropped to bench for Penrith
"He only defends when it's time for finals
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6 hours ago
EA replied to EA's discussion Take Aways from the game
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D87qjkutWDg 
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7 hours ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Hopgood 2 week ban,
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