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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Joeyboyz replied to Roy tannous's discussion Eels taking Lomax to court
"Exactly right Randy. The fact that this is going on for so long clearly shows that the NRL are going to back Melbourne and Lomax, otherwise they would have stepped in long ago and put a stop to this circus. Parra taking things to court was a great…"
6 minutes ago
Alfred Mateo replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"Hey Captain-thoughts on what Lomax' legal team will be using as their defence option? Restraint of trade? Signing agreement under duress? Virtually impossible to see how he wins this given he had legal representation when signing the agreement. Is…"
2 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"Spot on"
3 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"Clint newtown is a dickhead"
3 hours ago
Perpetual Motion replied to Roy tannous's discussion Eels taking Lomax to court
"Bout right."
3 hours ago
Perpetual Motion replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"He dumped the NRL for R360. He should be on a 10 year ban.  "
3 hours ago
Poupou Escobar replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"You think Lomax is not good enough for the Storm? Their last premiership had these angels:
Munster, Bromwich, NAS, Brandon Smith
The premiership before that had Curtis Scott."
3 hours ago
BringBackSemi replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"The thing that really grates me in all this, is that the NRL had their chest puffed out that if anyone was even talking to R360, they'd be banned for 10 years. Lomax gets a release to chase the dollars in R360, but now it's gone pear shaped, they…"
3 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Roy tannous's discussion Eels taking Lomax to court
""
3 hours ago
parra supporter replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"Not a lawyer in any way but do follow industrial disputes closely as part of my job. I don't believe the Supreme Court is to mediate in any way. I think it's just going to be a black and white the.clause is legally binding and can be enforced at…"
4 hours ago
parra supporter replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"Correct but clubs are also smart enough to see a steal. Play the I only can give 450K due to cap restraints but we will be able to give your your value for 27 & 28. Lomax is in the position now where it's sign with rugby or be at the mercy of other…"
4 hours ago
DYNASTY.LOADING replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"We should call the Titans. Fotuaika."
4 hours ago
Clintorian replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"I think there's a point where Storm realise Lomax is just not worth the energy, the cost, and the time it takes to settle through the courts. Their pre-season will be over which means he won't be able to learn their defensive structures.
Lomax will…"
4 hours ago
LB replied to Roy tannous's discussion Eels taking Lomax to court
"Lomax has been poorly advised for years, yet still has not changed management. Someone said why doesn't he sack them? Well he is gullible enough to take their advice, he is gullible enough to forgive them for their troubles. 
R360 was definately the…"
4 hours ago
LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax (Official Club Statement)
"In that case, he wont be going to Melbourne. They haven't offered any players to my knowledge. 
$200k is definately not their best offer. That is lowballing as it comes. We get that from a day from the pokies at Parra Leagues."
4 hours ago
Muttman replied to Roy tannous's discussion Eels taking Lomax to court
"Maybe partially true but Paps didn't express a desire to leave until very late in the season. Bellamy may have been a contributing factor too. His intensity has a limit too. "
4 hours ago
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