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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EA replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
"Yep there are so many with similar potential with the players we have named. Polley and Bell were probably my next two on my list. I just want to see how they both go in u19/JF footy against the more physical and developed kids. Seuseu is so…"
2 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓 replied to Yeah Man's discussion Worst forward pack ever in team history?
"I agreed 
Paulo  -  not going well. 5/ 10 this year
Smith - looks smaller gets dominated in defence 
Williams  - isn't a prop
Kautoga  - looks lazy in defence . Jury still out
Kelma  - reserve grader. Release him now
Walker - bench  is a must
Sam…"
3 minutes ago
Sonic Boom replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
"Mine would be Bell, Seuseu, Petrus, Lorenzo, Polley.
In saying that there are prob 15-20 outside of the 5 that are just as promising but if i had to pick 5 based off my time watching
 "
6 minutes ago
Sonic Boom replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
"100% i had rated this guy way higher than Tuivaiti coming out of the jnrs (in saying that Sam has exceeded my expectations since). Still a blue chip talent to add to the squad"
12 minutes ago
Poppa replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
"Your too young to smoke, what would the children say?"
16 minutes ago
Parrafan101 replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
"Them giving us Kade Reed will be the biggest mistake dragons can make as a club. I'd get Pacifiki-Tonga but man Kade Reed he's got some big wraps on him."
21 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"As long as he does his job that's all he has to do no more no less,that goes for any of these players coming in.Just give all they have and if it's good enough so be it.Right now I expect nothing from them but the above.We have set the culture play…"
38 minutes ago
TolEllts replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"EA, I saw a cup game with Pryke and just like you, I am hoping that he is up to it in FG for the team's sake. However, I am not that confident on what I saw. Fingers crossed we will not get clobbered by the Dogs and put up a fight to them."
43 minutes ago
EA replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
"Yep no junior outside back will be ready till 2028 IMO so we need recuirtments asap and thats if players like Bloomfield, Sorovi and Seuseu pick league over union."
55 minutes ago
EA replied to Yeah Man's discussion Worst forward pack ever in team history?
"I pointed this out in pre-season but people like Poppa thought I was wrong lol"
59 minutes ago
EA replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"I hope Pryke is up for it physically since he is that smaller body."
1 hour ago
EA replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"JF is a whole new comp once SG ball finishes as every team promotes their SG ball stars. The flow on affect happens with teams promoting players to NSW Cup as well. Jersey Flegg started last year very strongly too."
1 hour ago
Offside replied to Yeah Man's discussion Worst forward pack ever in team history?
"Your kinda both right 
It can be beneficial 2000/2002 panthers blooded a lot of young players before they were ready then added some experience and 03 they were unbeatable 
That been said if players are getting flogged week in week out then it can…"
1 hour ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
"10. Kalooamantangi, LB? Surely there is an opportunity or at least conversation with the Su'a signing / Dragons issues.
We have all the data we need from 6 rounds, and the issues our middle & lack of metre eater in early tackles (Lomax) have clearly…"
1 hour ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
"Hahaha LB & Super, well played, one of the best clips of all time."
2 hours ago
JC replied to EA's discussion Loko Pasifiki Tonga requests immediate release
"I see what you did there."
2 hours ago
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