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.

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Latest comments

Coryn Hughes replied to Archie's discussion Ragged dolled every week?
"It's the same R and R that's been around for the last 5-6 years MoN and co have been around since 2018-19 maybe even before JS has been our CEO after Bernie Gurr left so much the same.JR has recruitment responsibilities also he has input but for…"
4 minutes ago
Mannah-Brow replied to Archie's discussion Ragged dolled every week?
"I don't think it's the coaching that's the issue it is the poor quality of our roster, particularly our aging middles and our lack of depth out wide. If you weigh up losing Brown and Lomax against the recruitment of old and unwanted JDB and Kelly…"
9 minutes ago
EelsAgeMe replied to Archie's discussion Ragged dolled every week?
"I think you misssed this article. "
9 minutes ago
Old School Eel replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Year after year in this site, people have been saying  how we have lots of money to spend next season 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️"
9 minutes ago
EA replied to EA's discussion Line Up next week
"The player got sent off"
10 minutes ago
EA replied to EA's discussion Line Up next week
"Let’s add Jake tago being knocked out by a panthers player to the injury list"
11 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"R and R has been inept not just this year but for years I'm still spewing that DB isn't with us spewing and we still haven't replaced him.
Lomax but in saying the same Simonssons giving it a red hot crack and is going well but you can't hope to…"
14 minutes ago
Parrafan101 replied to Archie's discussion Ragged dolled every week?
"I don't think k it's the coaching, it's the R&R team they've recruited bums to play for us. End of story."
16 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"If we are at this level in another 12 months I'd let him go to don't muck around with it.For me the realisation will come where he'll want to take his talent to a team that's legit ready to win a comp seemingly we don't look like we are aligned in…"
22 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Archie's discussion Ragged dolled every week?
"But but fans wanted this they hated the win the collision line now that we are getting run through and dominated physically now it's an issue.This place is hilarious.All anyone was talking about is how well coached we are how good we look with the…"
29 minutes ago
EA replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"JR looked so dejected in the press conference. Seems like he knows our middles defence ain’t gonna improve any time soon"
30 minutes ago
Parrafan101 replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Don't be surprised if we can't make another signing Moses will ask for a release "
34 minutes ago
Parrafan101 replied to EA's discussion Line Up next week
"We need to play all our young guys man, these old players have to go."
36 minutes ago
EA replied to EA's discussion Line Up next week
"He dropped the ball just tonight in cup from a bomb due to pressure and panthers scored. Defensively he isn't a good last line of defence. Attacking wise he is easily ready.  Just other parts of his game isn't good enough "
39 minutes ago
HH - Love You Iongi Time! replied to EA's discussion Line Up next week
"Is Twidle NRL ready, EA?
Or needs more development with body?
At number 1?"
41 minutes ago
EA replied to Richard Jackson's discussion This is frightning
"Fletcher also left the field a minute before this happened. Not sure what injury he has "
42 minutes ago
More…

Keaon done deal

As of Thursday, December 11, 2025, South Sydney Rabbitohs forwardKeaon Koloamatangi has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Parramatta Eels, but it is not yet officially announced by the clubs.  Soon to be announced.

Read more…
14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
Views: 2246

 

The "want"

Its not in the who, the why, or the how its in the want. How can  It take 2 front rowers and a large hooker to put down a winger its in the want. How can a so so 2nd rower run thru 3 first up tacklers , side step a 5/8 and get a pass away, its in…

Read more…
2 Replies · Reply by Yeah Man 1 hour ago
Views: 218

This is frightning

Today minutes before H/T in Ball one of our own went down, and stayed down.Great concern for the player, while he was being cared for on the ground for 65 minutes.It took that long for the first ambulance to arrive, where the Ambos took over and…

Read more…
7 Replies · Reply by EA 42 minutes ago
Views: 447

Ragged dolled every week?

It seems to be boys V men entry week watching Parra play. We simply have been ragdolled every week. We have skill with the ball but are always chasing given we are on the back foot.Does the Centre of Excellence have a weights room ... we look weak…

Read more…
7 Replies · Reply by Coryn Hughes 4 minutes ago
Views: 252

<script src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Sidebar -->
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<script>// <![CDATA[
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
// ]]></script>