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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Adam Magrath replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Yeah not much, wouldn't hurt to approach the league if the bears actually want him and see what arrangements (if any) could be made that in some way benefit us. I had a giggle to myself over how you described the Pezet signing the other day."
1 minute ago
LB replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"The depth is the biggest issue Coryn. Simonsson goes down, which based on form of late and every year he has been at the club is bound to happen, we have nothing. Only Tago with 8 NRL games experience. That is it for Wingers."
7 minutes ago
LB replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Well that's what i wonder about the transfer fee, what does it do for us?"
10 minutes ago
LB replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Did you not read my blog? I mentioned it was brought up by me so others do not try to make a story out of it."
10 minutes ago
LB replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Well he says now he is over rugby league, or is it he is over playing Wing? Many say he is a loss, he is but many act like our title chances are now gone completely without him. 
But Ryles being so comfortable and calm with him leaving says a bit…"
11 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Whatever you do BE boycott handing your hard earned Jesus I pity fans that hand over there hard earned to these jokers to have them pull the rug out from under you most years.Haven't bought a Parra jersey since 09.The blue pirtek job which I still…"
14 minutes ago
LB replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"So my mum is involved with it being an Eels fan but knowing acquitance, like me, linked to Lomax. She keeps saying Lomax was led astray by his management. Though i always reply he is a grown man, he was able to decide whether the risk was worth…"
17 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"It's a key spot and regardless of what's being said and portrayed here.The coach and club are putting a brave face on here.They need something better than Simonsson whose not a bad player but we no what we have there.Lomax is a potential match…"
31 minutes ago
Gucci replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Played Origin and for Australia. Whats higher than that?"
51 minutes ago
GM replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Thanks mate "
53 minutes ago
Blue Eel replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Oh I wouldn't worry GM about Pops too much, if he is engaging with you that means you've had something to say, and something worth responding too. Thats just as valuable on this site as anyone else's opinion.
👍"
1 hour ago
Snottie Pimpin replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Reached the highest level ? He saw himself as a centre and reluctantly played wing . There is nothing surer than him getting sick of rugby sooner rather than later and going somewhere else from there . Who cares where players like him don't win…"
1 hour ago
iamnot replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"You're right. He looked done with rugby league before he got to us. He's not looking at coming back at all. "
1 hour ago
Gucci replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Sell his contract rights to a team with cap space and something to offer us. Raiders or Roosters. We dont want Toby Sexton or some Superleage Centre no other clubs wanted. Otherwise keep him out of the game until 2029.
Although, in all seriousness,…"
2 hours ago
Adam Magrath replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Being the new club, do the bears get some sort of salary cap concessions? Given his release conditions I'm wondering if we could get some sort of cap relief in exchange for him going there?"
2 hours ago
Snottie Pimpin replied to LB's discussion Perth Bears GM refuses to rule out play for Zac Lomax
"Im not worried about him at all.
Theres nothing going on upstairs with the bloke. His yardage game is elite but 9/10 decisions he makes on the field are the wrong one. He had more decisons to make at centre and was hopeless. His defence is ordinary.…"
2 hours ago
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