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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Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"Well would you look at that, exactly 12wks is what's required to receive salary cap dispensation from the NRL. Farking crooks!!"
1 minute ago
Prof. Daz replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"Anyone attending AAMI for R1?
I will be there. You will know it's me as I will have a blowtorch"
40 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"We will beat these pricks. But don't be suprised if the refs favour melbourne. Even with coates out they have a strong roster no excuses"
44 minutes ago
Prof. Daz replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"LB, did you ever propose that the athlete just stick their heel in the River Styx to avoid future problems?"
44 minutes ago
Ghost_of_Dan replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"And Papenhuyzen and NAS"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"When I worked with rep teams, a winger who was out with torn Achilles said he would rather have torn his ACL instead Achilles just how the recovery and feel for the game was different between both injuries."
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"pussy...that's loser talk.
It also means the Rat remains in your kitchen
Because they know your so unjust.....But when they catch you up They will kick you up Because you someone they cannot trust There's a rat in me kitchen what am I gonna do?…"
1 hour ago
Poppa replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"Hope we win, hate to see you blokes with "blowtorches" coming out of your arses if we lose.
I'll stick with Coryn's angle, just go out and win and leave the bad blood on the ground.
We all saw what happened to the Broncos this morning, anything can…"
1 hour ago
Poppa replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"The Achillies is an extension of the calf muscle and as such any surgery can have consequences, 3 months is conservative if it is a tear. Someone who's game is built around speed and jumping can have all sorts of problems.
 "
1 hour ago
Parra-all-the-way replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"that would be funny as!"
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"Brilliant.
The club should hand out blowtorch cutouts to the crowd. Epic burn
I'm dead serious"
1 hour ago
BlacJac replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"I'm bringing my actual blow torch rd11! "
2 hours ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"What based on World Club Challenge Brisbane now easy beats?
WCC is a terrible guide as SL have the advantage"
2 hours ago
Poppa replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"LOL, so true Randy!"
2 hours ago
SuperEel 22 replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
"Price of the Lomax going up."
2 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Coates out for 3 months Achilles injury
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2 hours ago
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Keaon done deal

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14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
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