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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EA replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"Teacum Brown"
1 hour ago
Clintorian replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"Who's this?"
1 hour ago
Clintorian replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"We used to call them 'suicides' when I was playing."
1 hour ago
Clintorian replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"Sualli? I don't see him leaving rugby and coming back to NRL to play for Parra."
1 hour ago
Perpetual Motion replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"Definitely bigger than Sam"
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Poppa's discussion Poppa's Dilemma, Welcome to my Corner, come in and have a Cuppa with a Silly Old Bastard. I think it's New Year Shortly?
"I'm onstage playing with Randy's Reardoor Ramjets"
2 hours ago
Hector replied to Poppa's discussion Poppa's Dilemma, Welcome to my Corner, come in and have a Cuppa with a Silly Old Bastard. I think it's New Year Shortly?
"Very interesting 🤔 But that's way past my bedtime .Randy my man😴"
2 hours ago
HH - Love You Iongi Time! replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"Even after his slow start to 2025, Kautoga ended up leading all our forwards in post contact metre percentage.
He made giant strides until he was grounded against Penrith.Can only see him getting stronger and making bigger inroads next year.Kautoga…"
4 hours ago
EA replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"Yea they recon Bloomfield and Risati are better union players than league and being selected in the u17 wallabies side showed it. So easier team for them to make professionally.
However, I wouldn't be to fast saying Bloomfield wont make NRL if he…"
7 hours ago
Prof. Daz replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"The article, via Archive Today: https://archive.md/BMSIB"
7 hours ago
paul taylor replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"EA, 
Bloomfield will go RU because he wont make NRL IMO. Risati needs to knuckle down this year. Can play but I cant see him ahead of Lorenzo, Fletcher at this stage. "
7 hours ago
EA replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"Also I was told by a HM player that he recon Bloomfield and Risati will pick union."
7 hours ago
EA replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"I would start Williams and KK. Tuilagi comes from the bench with Williams then moving into the middle rotation. However if Tuilagi edge defence is still not good enough, trial him in the middle otherwise off he goes at the end of the year."
7 hours ago
Marty replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"Odds on for Sualli...?
Has he whispered something to you"
7 hours ago
EA replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"I think Popo will nearly be as good as Talagi. Dont forget our own Cam Murray in Sam Polley.
Also I think Riley Davis is a lot like Reece Walsh. Acceleration is great.
Fletcher, Lorenzo and Risati should all be FG halves and are just 18, 19 & 20…"
7 hours ago
Coryn Hughes replied to CarloEEL2's discussion Scouting report - today’s Tele
"In my day it was called the beep test or another run we used to do was called Henny Mullers for oxygen sapping lung busting exercise.
Yo-yo's is another run very similar to the bronco.
AB bronco record is 4.12 held by Beauden Barrett & Cam…"
7 hours ago
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