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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LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"Oh they are definately not backing him. Coby Black signing means Sanders is not the long term answer as they are not moving Strange either. 
But what didn't work? Is that something we want to invest in?"
7 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"Right, so if someone said they did something illegal, then a few months later said loud and clear they didn't do it that means they are innocent?
Sorry Chief makes no sense what you are saying. You say do not jump to conclusions if we don't know the…"
9 minutes ago
HKF replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"Staying in Melbourne next season was not an option after he elected to take up the option of getting out of his contract. "
13 minutes ago
MeelK replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"Chief, I think you mean you'd put more trust in the version that suits your narrative... "
16 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"Oh yeah it could have started with us reaching out wanting long term, Pezet saying he wanted to play 7, Brisbane coming in and wanting him but not til 2027. He either stayed at Melbourne for 2026 or played FG at Parramatta in 2026 and we felt there…"
17 minutes ago
Hell On Eels replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"Fair enough, Adam. Also, I agree with you that Walker has the footy IQ to be a stop-gap. Not sure it'll come to that though. Still, I suspect Ryles likes high-IQ halves; even at six.
One theme in his era has been raising the average IQ across the…"
22 minutes ago
SuperEel 22 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"I don't think they're preferencing either right now. Renzo got an opportunity in NSW Cup last season and given our focus on finding a long-term 5/8 I think he's probably further ahead development-wise. Renzo has been extended to the end of 2028 and…"
35 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"And Anasta said it loud and clear in yesterday's podcast aswell.   
No.use jumping to conclusions if we don't know the real answer.  
This blog is concerning the Kayo podcast.  Where he wasn't promoted by his mates, and he wasn't drunk on his Bali…"
37 minutes ago
Hell On Eels replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"LB, good post mate. The thing is: Reality trumps whatever we agree or disagree with. Roosters signed DCE for a year. Panthers signed Lussick for a year. We signed Pezet for a year.
So, we're making mountains out of ant mounds on here about it…"
39 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Eelawarra's discussion THE EELS SUPERTEE
"Yes. Great initiative.  Well done to everyone "
41 minutes ago
Blue Eel replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"We must really really have some talent in our next gen pathways. Looking forward to that, actually long term strategy plays a huge part here. If youngsters feel they will get a shot at first grade, then they are more likely to come to the Eels as 15…"
47 minutes ago
Muttman replied to Eelawarra's discussion THE EELS SUPERTEE
"Yeh this is a cracker. Fantastic initiative from the club. Congratulations to all involved. "
1 hour ago
JEELman replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"We have him for a season enjoy the ride. If he kicks the winning field goal against the Storm first round we'll all say what a master stoke. "
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"Well i know that, just saying no guarentees he works out.
Is Fletcher the one they are looking at more than Talataina?"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"Doesn't matter what Anasta i believe, he said it. That was an interview before he had even signed officially. You are trying to get a "Gotcha ya" claim and there is not one to be had here Chief. He said that. If it wasn't true why say it? Especially…"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Ryles never offered Pezet more than 1 year
"Anasta said the plan was always a loan then says yeah we wanted him long term? Which is it?
Not once did i say offer him a 4-5 year deal, plus i have said not to give a deal for the sake of giving deals. Anasta is acting as if we signed DCE who can…"
1 hour ago
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