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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Mallee57 replied to Yeah Man's discussion Sean Russell ruled out. Can we forfeit?
"Who replaces Russell "
8 minutes ago
Old School Eel replied to EelsAgeMe's discussion Drinking the pre season Kool-aid
"Parramatta have always performed poorly in seasons when "... the media and journalists start backing us...""
1 hour ago
Parra-all-the-way replied to Yeah Man's discussion Sean Russell ruled out. Can we forfeit?
"Happy to see canvas get another go, I thought he was one of our better players the other day, in such a bad team. Looks a solid young guy, give him his chance!"
2 hours ago
Mallee57 replied to Mallee57's discussion What another Boring Year for Eels Fans
" 🥱🥱"
3 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to EelsAgeMe's discussion What’s the Deal with De Belin?
"Like a Trojan horse...but we made it ourselves, stuffed it full of shit players and dragged it through our own gate."
5 hours ago
EA replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 7 Team List v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
"Ya oops. Was wondering where you went lol"
5 hours ago
LB replied to Yeah Man's discussion Sean Russell ruled out. Can we forfeit?
"God if we are relying on a Centre then times are tougher than we thought."
5 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Mallee57's discussion What another Boring Year for Eels Fans
" Guy who gives off strong sockpuppetry vibes and uses laughing emoji as vocabulary gives advice on the deep end.... when all he ever  does is dogpaddle in a piss-filled kiddie pool.
 "
5 hours ago
Old School Eel replied to Yeah Man's discussion Sean Russell ruled out. Can we forfeit?
"I can see the logic in that. Was coming more from a salary cap perspective. "
5 hours ago
Parra-all-the-way replied to Yeah Man's discussion Sean Russell ruled out. Can we forfeit?
"If it means he comes early now, no point saints having him there if he missing several weeks. We use that time for him to learn our shapes etc, serves his suspension and is ready to go. Like the idea "
6 hours ago
The Badger replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Jaydn Su’A Commits to Parramatta Eels (Official Club Statement)
"Anyone know why he left us in the first place?"
6 hours ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Jaydn Su’A Commits to Parramatta Eels (Official Club Statement)
"All great points Pops, and always good discussions - can definitely see your point of view for sure.
100% with you on that last paragraph. Hopefully as you say, some of the guys get their chance sooner rather than later & take it.
 "
6 hours ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓 replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Jaydn Su’A Commits to Parramatta Eels (Official Club Statement)
"A clock’s right twice a day Poop… so technically I should be due any minute now. 😄"
6 hours ago
Poppa replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Jaydn Su’A Commits to Parramatta Eels (Official Club Statement)
"That's fine Nos, it was just my view as well. Good discussion points for future reference. Petrus maybe closer than you think, but again I don't see enough of him to substantiate the view. I realise petrus is not a middle btw.
If he is as good as EA…"
6 hours ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to Yeah Man's discussion Sean Russell ruled out. Can we forfeit?
"Very true, Bobby.
With Dylan Egan & Ryan Couchman both due back next week, maybe they consider it but yeah, unlikely. 
 "
6 hours ago
Prof. Daz replied to Yeah Man's discussion Sean Russell ruled out. Can we forfeit?
"My Injured 13 Eels side:
Iongi
Simmonson
Russell
Samrani
R. Penisini
Pezet (#6)
L. Fletcher (#7)
Doorey
Twidle (emergency utility!)
Tuivati
Kautonga
Tuilagi
Hopgood
Eels can literally field a 13 run-on side from injured Top 30 & Development "
6 hours 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
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