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 Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"If he is top 30, then it is a deal already in place when he signed last year. This would not be a reaction to Lomax leaving.
Similar to like Latu and Funa-Iuta, who are on development for 2026 and top 30 2027."
2 minutes ago
LB replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"I have now seen one outlet reporting the case. Unless his deal, which was a two year deal, was 2026 development and 2027 top 30 which is common."
43 minutes ago
LB replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"With a new team coming into the market, teams are prioritising keeping what they have and those who are on the market are using Perth as bait for higher wages. 
It is the same as the market has been bare for a few years due to the cap going up year…"
44 minutes ago
LB replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"Yeah good point, if Lomax wanted to stay we keep him. But also i have heard Ryles was not too fussed, feeling the price for a Winger was too high."
51 minutes ago
LB replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"Parrafan101, are you a pessimist? With all due respect but everything is the worst thing in the world. We are not going to sign massive big names, well more than 1 as there is nothing on the roster. Has been that case for years. We are not an…"
54 minutes ago
Hell On Eels replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"Haha, Randy. I'm on board with that analogy. Other people are not in the controllable basket. If she wants "to walk", you open the door & tie a red ribbon around her. Ours has a long string though lol."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion The Mole: Tyrell Sloan firming to exit as new face pushes tryscoring gun out of Dragons' plans
"I mean maybe. The only coaches he has had are Griffin and Flanagan. Would a nurturing coach be better for him?"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion The Mole: Tyrell Sloan firming to exit as new face pushes tryscoring gun out of Dragons' plans
"Us and 16 other clubs didn't seem to want him either. Go figure. Averillo is a decent player but a Winger? But i hear "Why didn't we go for Averillo" we obviously have seen something other clubs have as well."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion The Mole: Tyrell Sloan firming to exit as new face pushes tryscoring gun out of Dragons' plans
"The big issue for Sloan is defence and impact to bend the line. Speed at times cannot be taught, he has god given speed. But we already have that type of Winger in JAC. We need a metre eater like To'o or Kiraz, a workhorse. Simonsson is the only one…"
1 hour ago
Adam Magrath replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"Can you imagine the uproar on here if that's all we do, upgrade and extend from within. This place will go into meltdown."
1 hour ago
Blue Eel replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"I've been involved in some big cultural change regimes, big picture stuff effecting massive organisations. One thing rings true time and time again no matter how big or how small the organisation that you are trying to change. It all begins when…"
1 hour ago
Muttman replied to Cumberland Eel's discussion The Mole: Tyrell Sloan firming to exit as new face pushes tryscoring gun out of Dragons' plans
"I've always thought Sloan was a player of great untapped potential. However I'm not sure he fits into our side."
1 hour ago
Blue Eel replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"I love this, so apt."
1 hour ago
Blue Eel replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"Is it really a group "demanding someone be signed Pops" or could it be a group getting very annoyed even pissed that we keep missing players we have identified and gone after. I am definetely in the last group without doubt. The first group…"
1 hour ago
Poppa replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"Coryn Hughes  Coryn what is the quality like of the second division of Rugby League in NZ, i.e I suppose the equivalent of NSW Cup, what process does a junior Kiwi player have with lets say a junior coming through NZ League. 
Would there be room for…"
2 hours ago
Poppa replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Nelson Asofa-Solomona quits footy for new $1M boxing career
"Is he "Head of Recruitment" I wouldn't know him if I fell over him?
I thought he was more of a talent scout in the junior's market? and had little to do with First Grade Recruitment.
The club has plenty of money and it is not cap effected to pay…"
2 hours ago
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