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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Coryn Hughes replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"I don't see a spoon team here but in the same breath there are a lot and I mean alot of issues around this team and the club right now and the cause and effect is there to be seen.Making the 8 as currently constructed would be over achieving if we…"
59 minutes ago
Offside replied to Mallee57's discussion Today’s Game- Utterly Disgusting
"Giving up a 10 point lead 
Kicking the ball dwad on the 2nd tackle 
Our last 20 of the first half all didn't help.
But the referee was very very poor"
1 hour ago
KingGutho replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"We look dreadful atm, I actually think we will be fighting out for the spoon atm with the dragons, the titans will smash this team on the weekend "
1 hour ago
LB replied to Snottie Pimpin's discussion Charlie Guymer
"Well it hasn't been til this year really where where he was playing Cup as a middle. Before that he came into open age footy as an edge and that spot doesn't suit him.
I am not ready to give up on Guymer being a decent to good NRL player. He is 22…"
4 hours ago
LB replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"Making a GF is a massive feat. Not many remember the runners up, but it is a feat getting a team to a GF. "
4 hours ago
LB replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"Oh no i make mistakes, i admit when i do. But nothing like that where i said an old coach is coaching a team that is doing well, when that coach is gone and the team is 1-4. That is simply keeping up with the game.
Making a mistake with saying like…"
4 hours ago
Mallee57 replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"So you've never made more than 2 mistakes 😂 Youd be better off supporting Penrith as they apparently never make mistakes either according to the referees and according to yourself "
4 hours ago
LB replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"Well now is a time to get us with our injuries. But if they are it will be scrappy. If they beat us comfortably then that is where questions need to be asked.
I see GC being like us last year, they probably will have a good finish to the season, but…"
4 hours ago
Mallee57 replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"Well we will see how well they're doing next week against the Ryles Eels "
4 hours ago
LB replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"Yes, Holbrook is doing a great job for Newcastle. People do make mistakes but you made two mistakes. Thinking Gold Coast was Newcastle and that Holbrook was their coach. 
Why would i be embarrassed? I didn't say it confidently."
4 hours ago
LB replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"Different era's of footy. Game is a lot faster and stronger today than back then. We cannot compare teams at all. I always say it is like horse racing, those who try to compare Phar Lap with stayers today simply cannot as the way the horses today…"
4 hours ago
Snottie Pimpin replied to Snottie Pimpin's discussion Charlie Guymer
"I agree with the complaining about players filling out the squad I'm just not sure what Charlie has that makes him an NRL player . I haven't seen leg speed from him , haven't seen an ability to ball play with any tempo , he doesn't fold blokes as an…"
4 hours ago
Mallee57 replied to EelsAgeMe's discussion That’s 3 long term injuries because of foul play.
"Might have to look at Kings Cross plenty there apparently "
4 hours ago
Mallee57 replied to EelsAgeMe's discussion That’s 3 long term injuries because of foul play.
"Ryles says Russell is fine in the press conference! Doubt there will be any compensation as the Eels aren't Penrith or the Storm "
4 hours ago
EA replied to Codswallop's discussion Eels will make the 8 this year
"At this current injury rate, in 2 weeks time we will be fielding a nsw cup side and another 6 weeks have that it will be a RM/JF team."
4 hours ago
Yehez replied to EelsAgeMe's discussion That’s 3 long term injuries because of foul play.
"No you're right. papalii can do a job there if we have the backs fit but we don't.
I always thought we should have given Lussick another year. "
4 hours ago
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Charlie Guymer

What does everyone think of the news Charlie has extended with us ?To me there is a huge emphasis on athletic edges at the moment with the way the game has gone . There needs to be some sort of athletic edge . Whether they be big, fast, tall ,…

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Let the man speak his mind

Jeez...every press conference ryless just has to say the same shit cause if he speaks his mind it's a fine.Like seriously just let the man speak his mind fmd cause you can see how bad he was itching to speak it.fck me so annoying,fck the fines and…

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