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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Coryn Hughes replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion RECRUITMENT
"TPAs are but a tool if you don't have them and others are operating with them that puts us at a disadvantage in recruiting circles.That's all it is in a field that is competitive and a resource at the top of the talent tree which is scarce you need…"
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Eels1 replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion RECRUITMENT
"These 3 ore huge failures "
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Angry Eel replied to Joel K's discussion Club to take up De Belin option
"Let Critta go but you could argue McLean is going to be better. At least Penrith got a return for their juniors before they left for the money. "
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LB replied to Jason's discussion Here we go again 😂
"They worked with him in 2024 when he was protesting and having a go at the club over BA. Since then they took access away and he carried on. If they gave it back to try and get him back onside, why didn't they just do that then? Would have been…"
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Clintorian replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Unity is Strength: Back the Badge
"Nice write up Super.
I share the some confusion... We're all frustrated with how this year's gone after such hi off-season hopes. But it doesn't take a genius to see that the critical injuries have played a significant role in how we're travelling…"
43 minutes ago
LB replied to Jason's discussion Here we go again 😂
"He did the same in 2024. The club brought him in, gave him access to spread postivity. He did that. Then things went sour quickly again late last year and have eventuated to this. Titan, look at his instagram post on April 1st about Olantekkers and…"
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LB replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Unity is Strength: Back the Badge
"Well said Super and Cap. I even thought to myself are Parra actually weak with public opinion. Then i remembered 2024 and how they handled that and that makes me believe what is happening the belief might not be the case."
1 hour ago
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to Jason's discussion Here we go again 😂
"They say the truth always hurts."
1 hour ago
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to Jason's discussion Here we go again 😂
"Boom 💥 "
1 hour ago
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Unity is Strength: Back the Badge
"I don't know about you but I've been backing the badge for a bloody long time, Eels were here before me and will be long after me. So when are we gonna become a top 4 team?"
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LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion RECRUITMENT
"Doubt research was needed to know it was the case. Common sense would have prevailed for many."
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Poppa replied to Joel K's discussion Club to take up De Belin option
"My response was to a question posed by Tin Tim, i.e.not one decent player! I responded with SUA
now you have responded by saying "decent but nothing special"............................ decent!!!!
Are you AWL from your asylum because you have then…"
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LB replied to Jason's discussion Here we go again 😂
"I mean Des did it but he wasn't sacked. I bet it has but when was the last time a coach returned to a club he was sacked by?"
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Alfred replied to Jason's discussion Here we go again 😂
"If Ryles can't handle this job anymore. Do we bring back BA and do it on his terms got unfinished business at a club he loves. "
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Blue Eel replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Unity is Strength: Back the Badge
"Well said Super. I don't know the guys stuff from a bar of soap, and it's refreshing to hear from one of our own, with an alternative view. LB alluded to it  in some blogs and i took it on board. You have now confirmed some more things.
Onwards and…"
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Coryn Hughes replied to Joel K's discussion Club to take up De Belin option
"Brown about did it for me 8 yr contract and we still lose our best and brightest developed player in the last decade yet as you mention AE Penrith Melbourne and alike some how manage to keep there best young players stashed and when they do let…"
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