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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Aracom replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Id pay him to take off the jersey tbh"
2 hours ago
Wizardssleeves official receipts replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Cooper Cronk: On the Parramatta Eels, Pezet, Lomax and Recruitment
"Point is , he'll hardly be getting Moses money just cause he gets to kick.  . We aren't shy to throw a decent paycheque out there and we certainly have some.  If we offered that clown that kinda coin , I'm sure we wouldn't have been offering Peasant…"
5 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"He is 35 this year but man he is still playing some good footy. But do you take the risk that father time creeps up right when we get him? Garrick is replacing Nawaqanitawase."
5 hours ago
Wizardssleeves official receipts replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion New signing at training ??? New guy
"Probably why they have a shit season.  Heads in the clouds. "
5 hours ago
Wizardssleeves official receipts replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"What a big soft as fuck homo pillow biter.  I'd stick the cunt in the sparky suit for the season. "
5 hours ago
Wizardssleeves official receipts replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Ain't it frustrating when other clubs are announcing decent players that we could use and we just pull our dicks every year , typing on here about all these players we'd like and then convincing ourselves they're actually shit when they sign…"
5 hours ago
ParramAddict replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Lets see what excuse he comes up with why he can't play against the Storms in Round 1, apart from just not being picked in the 17"
8 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"If you are going to do that better off just keeping him in Cup as a break glass option. Unless he is that much of a cancer and that negative to the squad that he needs to go."
8 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"He's fine, just feel we should get a younger Winger. Many saying he's a goal kicker, ummm Moses is too and is pretty much the same in percentage. "
8 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Someone mentioned on social media we may get jesse arthurs"
8 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"If i'm parra get big daniel tupou over for 2 yeara he has a lot to offer until some of these juniors are ready. Ramsey already at chooks plus garrick will go"
8 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Next you will say i wont get Hock either."
8 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Me neither he's a bum"
8 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Yeah met them already wants to play with dce"
8 hours ago
Frank The Tank replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"You won't get him either 😂😂😂"
9 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Damn it HKF, I was gonna ask where did Didly Squat come from to look them up.
Next you'll say Hock isn't coming."
10 hours ago
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