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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HH - Love You Iongi Time! replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R8 v Manly: Back-to-Back Or Back to Reality? (L33—18)
"Agree wholeheartedly Michael, could not have put it better myself."
3 minutes ago
Muttman replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"My point is they don't have the cattle this year either. Despite one of the best coaches in the game they're getting flogged. Our roster is below average. That's where the club's focus should be and as I've said too many times MON ain't the guy to…"
4 minutes ago
EelsAgeMe replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"Who would that be?"
4 minutes ago
Bear replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R8 v Manly: Back-to-Back Or Back to Reality? (L33—18)
"Even players good enought to play their best, week in week out. We are stop start week by week, dumb errors. Is this a first grade team, Look we didn't take our chances when they arrived, I get that. But a first grade team of honest toilers wont cut…"
5 minutes ago
jamie replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"Agreed with how the game is going and being referred."
7 minutes ago
Nathan 'The Gambler' Hindass replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"Don't have an update but he was in a sling so doesn't look good. Suspecting a few weeks at minimum "
8 minutes ago
Muttman replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R8 v Manly: Back-to-Back Or Back to Reality? (L33—18)
"Never blamed Guymer at all. Not one bit. He tried his guts out. "
8 minutes ago
jamie replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"I think he has to wear a fair bit of the blame.The Dragons are attracting players with an interim coach ffs.And getting smashed all season yet attract 2 Topline and 1 ok signing.Who have we signed???"
9 minutes ago
macybrown replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R8 v Manly: Back-to-Back Or Back to Reality? (L33—18)
"Exactly FM clearly gassed and all the reasons you mentioned.
 "
9 minutes ago
LB replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"Bellamy still has a world class spine. Something is going on at Melbourne though and Bellamy is in a position he has never been in before in 24 years, how does he get out of it? His ranting and raving will wear thin if they keep losing."
9 minutes ago
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"Time to blood that 5/8 wonder kid if only for a game or two."
10 minutes ago
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"That's if we don't lose another 5 by then."
10 minutes ago
LB replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"I will say, I agree. Last week was proof that limited 6 again's led to a game of let the teams battle it out."
11 minutes ago
LB replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"Both Brown and Wisemantal. Brown works with sound and Wisemental with backs."
12 minutes ago
Alfred replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"Aaraz in for Kelly. We need to have some big bodies looking weak their. Walker obviously got injured what's the update? "
12 minutes ago
jamie replied to jamie's discussion Ryles the Super Coach
"Agreed "
12 minutes ago
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Ryles the Super Coach

So the supercoach has come up with run hard,tackle hard.The play book for any U13 dad coach.No shape,no defensive structure and no attacking plays at all.In the first time since watching the game 1977 I have turned a Parra game off.Ryles offers…

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