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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Hell On Eels replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Jock Madden has been good for the Tigers. Last week too."
2 minutes ago
EA replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Where the fuck is the 6 again for Moses on last"
3 minutes ago
Angry Eel replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"You can't stop players playing what they see. Play was on just needs to execute better"
3 minutes ago
Will 5150 replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"WTF was that one? Normal tackle, off quick, ball played... then 6 again?!?! Coaches everywhere need to blow up about this stupid rule... it needs to be in the bin... blight on the game"
5 minutes ago
Avon Barksdale replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Really poor awareness by da Silva. We had the right side of the field open "
5 minutes ago
Angry Eel replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Been saying it for 12 months. The kid is all class and magic just happens around him"
7 minutes ago
Will 5150 replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Be up by 6 if we could kick... need to address it asap if Mitch is off"
7 minutes ago
Will 5150 replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"This is like the best debut ever! He's quick too. Seen enough... lock him in... better than half our back line!"
8 minutes ago
CarloEEL2 replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Total proof this last 15 mins "
8 minutes ago
EA replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Random 6 again "
9 minutes ago
Comedian replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Lol here comes the ref again"
9 minutes ago
EA replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Let twiddle goal kick. He is better than these blokes "
11 minutes ago
EA replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"I need to get my receipts on him from when we won the SG ball comp in 2023"
11 minutes ago
Angry Eel replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Twidle Hayne"
11 minutes ago
Comedian replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"Pezet = Anchor on our attack"
11 minutes ago
Avon Barksdale replied to Prof. Daz's discussion GAME DAY BLOG, R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial (FINAL TEAMS IN; JDB & TWIDLE ON BENCH)
"He's a natural"
12 minutes ago
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