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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KENDOZA replied to Bert de Naturál✌️™'s discussion Peter V’landys MIA: How the Lomax Affair Exposed Cracks at HQ
"Horse man is full.of hot air. Can't stand him or that south african dope in abdo"
1 hour ago
KENDOZA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Bellamy extends 2028 - Ryles finishes 2028
"Cam smith will be next storm coach. No way ryles goes there after waiting only to be fucked over. "
1 hour ago
Yehez replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Bellamy extends 2028 - Ryles finishes 2028
"If Ryles leaves in 2028 with a premiership then I frankly don't care. 
But let's see anyway. If Ryles improves us again this year I'd go into contract talks with him next off season. "
2 hours ago
Stevo replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Bellamy extends 2028 - Ryles finishes 2028
"Ryles won't leave, he's been given everythig he needs for success. If we go deep into the finals this year I'm sure the club will lock him up long term."
2 hours ago
Parra fan on The Hill replied to Charbs's discussion Storm to face hefty bill if star loses Eels court fight
"If PVD doesnt come out publicly in Blue and Gold pom-poms then the Eels should file a motion of "no confidence" in PDV management and demand a EGM to seek a new Head."
3 hours ago
Alfred replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Bellamy extends 2028 - Ryles finishes 2028
"Our club won't let that happen. Melbourne always produce so many good assistants each year they will find their own "
3 hours ago
Perpetual Motion replied to Bert de Naturál✌️™'s discussion Peter V’landys MIA: How the Lomax Affair Exposed Cracks at HQ
"The chooks sombrero has been has been a running joke for decades. "
3 hours ago
Blue Eel replied to Charbs's discussion Storm to face hefty bill if star loses Eels court fight
"Surely a reporter is putting this on V'Landys and is asking the hard questions. This is breaking so many NRL rules, salary caps, contracts, player interference, no wonder the Eels wouldn't take him back. Surely someone with integrity within the NRL…"
4 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Charbs's discussion Storm to face hefty bill if star loses Eels court fight
"Surely it goes on the cap if the storm are paying his legal bill
V'Landy's should be fired for his role in this debacle."
5 hours ago
Clintorian replied to Charbs's discussion Storm to face hefty bill if star loses Eels court fight
"How good would it be if the Storm lose the case, and then the NRL consider that part of Storm's salary cap as payment to Lomax 😆"
5 hours ago
LB replied to Johnny Suede's discussion SMH Report: Storm, Raiders & Perth Allegedly All Interested In Signing Lomax
"Right so they are getting to the point of hushing up Parra. Chan is ok but I would want a Flegg talent too.
Howarth is a real possibility if Lomax takes his Centre spot. Push for him and take Matto."
5 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Charbs's discussion Storm to face hefty bill if star loses Eels court fight
"The switch to the Storm for 2026 onwards has been reportedly valued at $1 million
What?
The?
Fuck?
How could Melbourne possibly put him on the books for a mil? "TPA's"?"
5 hours ago
Clintorian replied to Johnny Suede's discussion SMH Report: Storm, Raiders & Perth Allegedly All Interested In Signing Lomax
"No, my point is more about Lomax's team saying they had exhausted all the opportunities they had on the table with the other NRL teams that were interested, none were, and the only offer came from Storm. Then they could say Parra are restricting…"
5 hours ago
HKF replied to Bert de Naturál✌️™'s discussion Peter V’landys MIA: How the Lomax Affair Exposed Cracks at HQ
"Great stuff Bert. I felt compelled to break my absence."
5 hours ago
HKF replied to Charbs's discussion Storm to face hefty bill if star loses Eels court fight
"Surely it goes on the cap if the storm are paying his legal bill, teams get hit on the cap for employing players family members or paying for accommodation, flights etc for players family members.
This is a shit show for the NRL. which they caused…"
5 hours ago
Longfin Eel replied to Charbs's discussion Storm to face hefty bill if star loses Eels court fight
"The NRL don't want to know any of this. Vlandy's worst nightmare is real, and surely would be forced to act."
5 hours ago
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