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.

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Latest comments

EA replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"I wrote this in July 2025. So back when I wrote it he obviously hadn't played nsw cup yet. Now I obviously think he will and should be the 5/8 in cup"
11 seconds ago
Mallee57 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your R1 vs Storm team list
"I'd have Kelly ahead of Penisini "
16 seconds ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"Yeh.... but nah.
You will categorically NOT find Randy in an open field with metal goalposts at each end....Nope...nah-ah.
How close have folks been to a lightening strike? It is quite memorable...you put it in your notebook
 "
4 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"The pussies or vagina's sound so much better Randork.....do you have any semblance of manners, what does Randeet, think of these outcrys or doesn't she read your shit?"
7 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"Why would you waste him in JF, he should be playing 5/8 in cup and if Pezit gets injured, he looks like he would be comfortable in the ones, everything you say, says to me"he is the plan" of having Pevit for one year only.
I'm still not convinced…"
17 minutes ago
LB replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"lol they complain cause he is not Payne Haas. What they don't realise is his minor details in attack by being the link man and in defence where his 2nd man in efforts were fantastic was the difference. He is there to set the tone in defence. Thats…"
22 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your R1 vs Storm team list
"It is the same 1-17 as last night with Joash and Samrani
 
Done, sorted, how good."
26 minutes ago
EA replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"Lot of people on TCT are complaining about JDB. Yes he struggled a bit in attack which is natural since it's his first ever game for us but defensively I thought he was great"
29 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"Your a male Bluey, no males know where that button is!"
29 minutes ago
EA replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"Yea that running game is electric "
31 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"You mean to say he doesn't live the life of Riley?"
32 minutes ago
Johnny Suede replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"In the history of the game has a player (or fan, for that matter) ever been struck by lighning? I was unaware it was such a pressing problem. "
33 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"My Mother once said to me when I was a about 10 years old.....haven't you got enough sense to get out of the rain David.
If the cap fits wear it....those silly enough to sit on a muddy hill do not need to sit there, they are not entertaining…"
36 minutes ago
Johnny Suede replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"Apparently your chance of being struck by lightening is one in a million. So, if there's a threat to the players who need to take cover, shouldn't fans, stuck on a muddy hill, be shown the same level of safety? "
47 minutes ago
Flow Basket replied to Blue Eel's discussion Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Pre-Season Cup
"U can't have lightning breaks with beer prices so high and the way their checking bags just feels like someone's making money .while  kids over the road  standing in the rain with a fishing rods"
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to LB's discussion Melbourne's Matterson offer
"It would not surprise me either Mr Captain, not one little bit.
We are also, by design, a leaky ship right now. Scary stuff for a puppet master"
1 hour ago
More…

Keaon done deal

As of Thursday, December 11, 2025, South Sydney Rabbitohs forwardKeaon Koloamatangi has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Parramatta Eels, but it is not yet officially announced by the clubs.  Soon to be announced.

Read more…
14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
Views: 2095

 

Melbourne's Matterson offer

So it becomes more clearer, the $300k offered from Melbourne included $211,000 of that going towards Matterson's contract and $89,000 as a transfer fee. Instead of what we thought of $300k transfer fee and maybe taking Matto as well. So many felt…

Read more…
5 Replies · Reply by Randy Handlinger 1 hour ago
Views: 475

Another Matterson Concussion

It's being reported that Matto has suffered another concussion and is now seeking further medical advice.https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2026-ryan-matterson-concussions-parramatta-eels-future-zac-lomax-contract-saga-20260221-p5o4av.html

Read more…
1 Reply · Reply by LB 10 hours ago
Views: 480

<script src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Sidebar -->
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<script>// <![CDATA[
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
// ]]></script>