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 Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"lol they have AMS there when he is not even training with the nrl squad. He is training with nsw cup"
59 seconds ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"Talk gone quiet. Usually here a little bit more by now. 
Now watch it get announced at 4:00pm or something."
8 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"Beat me to it Chief. Guymer will be there as Moses rates him highly."
9 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"Well only player we want to get rid of would be Matto, makes no sense giving them anyone else of note. Names like Tago, R.Penisini, Mataele and perhaps Volkman but doubt they want any of them and stupid to swap a back for a back unless you have…"
10 minutes ago
The Badger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"That'd be right! Our 18th man is some guy who has had basically 2 years out with ACL injuries."
12 minutes ago
SuperEel 22 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"Guymer will be a gun for us. "
17 minutes ago
The Badger replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Eels eye Titans' Brian Kelly as Lomax replacement
"So the second bit then. More of what we are doing already. What's the point?"
18 minutes ago
Blue Eel replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"I'd get the old bones to do cartwheels if they wanted Matterson. 
On mega dollars this year and will be lucky to be picked in the starting side for Cup."
40 minutes ago
Michael W. replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"Kelly is not a done deal, yet. Apparently the Titans are after a player, dont know who, if they get him they wont stand in Kelly's way. The other sticking point is we have offered Kelly 2yrs, he wants 3yrs."
48 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"There's some big wraps on Guymer.  In a recent podcast Moses rates right him up there with any development players coming through atm "
53 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"Yeah,  I reckon Moretti is a lock 🔐 for a bench spot no doubt "
55 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Eels eye Titans' Brian Kelly as Lomax replacement
"Thats true Sup, but I think my list would average out to be pretty close.  Some individuals may have slightly different needs"
57 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Eels eye Titans' Brian Kelly as Lomax replacement
"And I forgot to put club facilities on there. Id probably put that around 6th or 7th"
59 minutes ago
Adam Magrath replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"It is hey, is Brian Kelly a done deal? Good pick up if true, for mine he is ahead of simonsson. I guess I'm a bit disappointed for papalli and Kautoga who have come along in leaps and bounds this year. I'm sure they will both get their chances…"
1 hour ago
Poppa replied to Johnny Suede's discussion Eels eye Titans' Brian Kelly as Lomax replacement
"Bias intimidates most opinions, St George last year had a champion Reserve Grade side, face value they then have more depth?
Saints are signing new players this year, we have signed not much.....the opinions therefore become entirely subjective…"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion AI picks Parramatta eels best 17 for 2026 season
"Well it comes down to how Ryles wants his bench. 1-15 is pretty much set, just Simonsson and Kelly battle and two bench spots.
Bench, well we know TDS and Walker will be on the bench. Last two spots Ryles could want two middles or a middle and…"
1 hour ago
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ANY MORE SIGNINGS???

I've been frustrated recently about the work we have been doing in the open market. Jonah's alright for a year and JDB is solid but he's getting old. I feel we need more in the forwards and some a replacement outside back. All I have seen is links…

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 27

 

ANY MORE SIGNINGS???

I've been frustrated recently about the work we have been doing in the open market. Jonah's alright for a year and JDB is solid but he's getting old. I feel we need more in the forwards and some a replacement outside back. All I have seen is links…

Read more…
36 Replies · Reply by LB 5 hours ago
Views: 1661

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