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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Randy Handlinger replied to Clintorian's discussion Lomax Update - Zac Lomax entered into preliminary contracts with R360 and the Melbourne Storm prior to being given his blessing by Parramatta
"get something done if 10 year ban is on table...there is no table, there is no backend to his empty threats. 
We should pin this hollow badge right on vlandys chest, not NRL, HIM.,,,,,,,He freshened up his brylcream and got all toughy-tough for the…"
9 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Clintorian's discussion Lomax Update - Zac Lomax entered into preliminary contracts with R360 and the Melbourne Storm prior to being given his blessing by Parramatta
"This sudden shift sponsored by NRL and Storm.
It will get worse, we just need to keep at it.and keep leaking No one will be feeling sorry for lomax any time soon if we keep our end up
 "
24 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion ‘Leaks and grandstanding’: Storm boss unloads on Eels over Lomax
""
31 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion ‘Leaks and grandstanding’: Storm boss unloads on Eels over Lomax
"That sucks PT. 
In other news, get out and support the poor hard done by Billionaires...They're here to help us, so lets help them. Get to the "March For Billionaires" this sat in LA,
I Shit You Not"
32 minutes ago
ParraEels replied to Clintorian's discussion Lomax Update - Zac Lomax entered into preliminary contracts with R360 and the Melbourne Storm prior to being given his blessing by Parramatta
"Fuck being the nice guys, it would be poetic justice if he ends up going to the Storms then gets rubbed out for the year. And I hope Storm never put their best 17 on the park all year long"
40 minutes ago
ParraEels replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion ‘Leaks and grandstanding’: Storm boss unloads on Eels over Lomax
"Hey now, nothing wrong with enjoying the smell of your own farts (or so I've been told)"
44 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Clintorian's discussion Lomax Update - Zac Lomax entered into preliminary contracts with R360 and the Melbourne Storm prior to being given his blessing by Parramatta
"ban vlandys for 10yrs for aggregious bluffshittery"
45 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion ‘Leaks and grandstanding’: Storm boss unloads on Eels over Lomax
"The world now sees Zac as a guy who deliberately walked out on Parramatta with bad intentions,” Tripp told Code Sports....lolololol. Yeah they do, and they see you as a entitled twat who likes the smell of his own farts.
revealing that the…"
52 minutes ago
Rabz S replied to Clintorian's discussion Lomax Update - Zac Lomax entered into preliminary contracts with R360 and the Melbourne Storm prior to being given his blessing by Parramatta
"Some people in the media need to be checked for HIAs and/or drugs.
I just saw a clip of Caine and Fletch, with Caine suggesting Storm should give us an up and coming young gun a part of the deal then mentions Storm giving us 31yo Tui. I had to watch…"
53 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion ‘Leaks and grandstanding’: Storm boss unloads on Eels over Lomax
"...and it lives. Thanks Mace, I'll read it, but news ltd can still go eat their own arse"
1 hour ago
Richard Jackson replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion ‘Leaks and grandstanding’: Storm boss unloads on Eels over Lomax
"Impressive sterling reply Coryn."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Clintorian's discussion Lomax Update - Zac Lomax entered into preliminary contracts with R360 and the Melbourne Storm prior to being given his blessing by Parramatta
"But remember, to Storm fans they are the victims in the media. Despite the fact channel 9 had Billy Slater on the GF telecast and said "4x premiership winner" acknowledging cheating comps count. 
NRL will do nothing to Melbourne, they will keep it…"
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion ‘Leaks and grandstanding’: Storm boss unloads on Eels over Lomax
"Mace, they do sound like a reactive mess, throwing spaghetti about  hoping for something, anything, to stick and generate some empathy for their cause...that's not gonna happen...
We are under their skin and I am well stocked with popcorn. With a…"
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion ‘Leaks and grandstanding’: Storm boss unloads on Eels over Lomax
"I thought all assistant coaches would have a get-out clause if offered a Head role, so why would we consult with this entitled-billionaire fuckbumper"
1 hour ago
macybrown replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion ‘Leaks and grandstanding’: Storm boss unloads on Eels over Lomax
1 hour ago
LB replied to Clintorian's discussion Lomax Update - Zac Lomax entered into preliminary contracts with R360 and the Melbourne Storm prior to being given his blessing by Parramatta
"Yep, i have seen the sudden shift of "Good on Parra, they should fight this" to "It sucks but move on". 
That is why i recently love listening to the likes of Willie Mason and Dan Ginnane who tell it like it is."
1 hour ago
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