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 Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"Good depth if Russel, Guymer and Doorey can't make the 19."
28 minutes ago
EA replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"Iongi
JAC
Kelly
Penisini
Simmo
Pezet
Brown
Paulo
Smith
Hopgood
Williams
Kautoga
JDB
TDS
Walker
Moretti
Tuilagi
Papalii
Tuivita"
31 minutes ago
EA replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"Don't you have to name 19 players?"
32 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"This Junior is fine I'm starting him everyday past Sunday and his second stints in the back end of the year were outstanding.Make no mistake Junior Paulo is still the numero uno prop at the club.He starts and leads the pack on the park IMO.
Its the…"
1 hour ago
Adam Magrath replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"True it could go that way, junior is getting towards the end and I'm thinking it would be wise to not burn him out right at the beginning of the contest each and every week - long season. Plus that impact type role plays to his strengths.
Also…"
3 hours ago
Michael W. replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"Lomax will line up against Fox, and Fox will burn him. Unless they play him in the centres."
5 hours ago
Michael W. replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"Don't need Blore, we have an abundance of edge players."
6 hours ago
Michael W. replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"He will start with Williams and Tuilagi in the second row, then Williams will go to the middle and Kk will go to the left edge. He won't go with Williams and KK to start."
6 hours ago
Clintorian replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"I was thinking JDB would start at 13 and either Walker would replace him, or he'd move to prop when Junior needed a rest. He can hold the defence in the middle without Junior which has been a weakness. Then he'd come back on wherever we'd need him…"
6 hours ago
Clintorian replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"I know Junior's retiring soon, but I think Tuivaiti will be ready to take his place at the end of the year and we'll have him, Hopgod, and Moretti at prop"
6 hours ago
Clintorian replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"Doorey will be in the mix too. I have a feeling he's in for a big year."
6 hours ago
Alfred Mateo replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Buzz Rothfeild SMH - A Howarth Lomax Swap Deal?
"Spot on Mace!"
7 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"Agreed coryn. People don't realise the roosters went hard for him but chose parra"
8 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"1.longi 2.kelly 3.penisini 4.howarth 5. Fox 6.pezet 7.moses 8. Hopegood 9.smith 10.debelin 11.kit kat 12.williams 13.junior 14.desilva 15.walker 16.tuilagi 17.tuivati."
8 hours ago
Darren Munro replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax hires lawyers against Parramatta
"Worse comes to worse parramatta takes him back and make him honour his contract. Screw Melbourne.  I would take coates or no one. They don't get to choose. Even if lomax wins in court. The nrl are within there rights to not registered his…"
8 hours ago
KingGutho replied to Roy tannous's discussion Rnd 1 team vs storm
"1: I Longi
2: B Simonson 
3: W Penisini
4: B Kelly
5: J Addo Carr
6: J Pezet
7: M Moses ( c ) ( gk )
8: Jr Paulo 
9: R Smith 
10: J Hopgood 
11: K Tuilugi
12: K Kautoga 
13: JDB
 
14: T Silva
15: J Williams ( edge, middle )
16: S Tuivita 
17: D…"
9 hours ago
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Rnd 1 team vs storm

1.Isaiah iongi 2.Bailey Simonsson 3.Will pensini4.Brian kelly5.Josh addocarr6.Jonah pezet7.Mitchell Moses 8.Jmaine hopgood9.Ryley smith10.Junior paulo11.Kitione kautoga12.Jack williams13.Jack debelin 14.Tayln da silva15.Dylan walker 16.Sam…

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36 Replies · Reply by EA 28 minutes ago
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