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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Adam Magrath replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"Why are there so many blogs with the same theme (and the same people with the same responses)? Thank goodness it's game day and there will be something else to talk about come 3pm"
16 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"It's the worst and I mean worst time to resign players for a club like ours now.If you are a young up n comer a clubman coming off contract an elite talent it's perfect timing with more money and opportunities on the market the options are there for…"
2 hours ago
Angry Eel replied to Angry Eel's discussion Clayton Faulaulo
"It's not just 1 game, he's played a handful of games and look like a pretty slick player. Sean Russell is no gun. He's developed into a decent 1st grade centre but has never appeared to be a player with a high ceiling.  Mate our outside back…"
2 hours ago
LB replied to Angry Eel's discussion Clayton Faulaulo
"Could a MON Voodoo doll be a possibility? Does Chief engage in witchcraft by any chance?"
3 hours ago
LB replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"In terms of Talking Parra. I would take that with a grain of salt at the moment. Primarily due to both those two parties having a fall out months ago. One side carried on about not having access anymore, on April fools day made a joke saying "We…"
3 hours ago
LB replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"Well PF how do we know another club didn't want them? Maybe no other club or maybe one other wanted Jenkins? You gonna say no thanks?
But in terms of elite, well not sure that is going to happen. Maybe one might come available later but rarely does…"
4 hours ago
LB replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"Ok few things. I do not really agree the defence as a whole is better than BA's at this stage. I mean this year we are setting records. Before you say injuries we conceded 86 points in first fortnight. Also, saying the roster that MON has given him…"
4 hours ago
Michael W. replied to Angry Eel's discussion Clayton Faulaulo
"Chief, your obsession with MON is consuming you. You eat, sleep, drink and probably masturbate to MON. You probably have a room filled with MON memorabilia, and a pentagram, or in your case a MONagram, just so you can try and do some weird shit with…"
4 hours ago
Parrafan101 replied to Angry Eel's discussion Clayton Faulaulo
"Mate don't forget Captain Ben Roger's too."
5 hours ago
Parrafan101 replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"They better be elite, if they another club doesn't want them type im gonna go ahead and sit myself out for the 27 season."
6 hours ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"We'll see if they can get more signings over the line. In just going off what's happened previously. "
6 hours ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"*2025"
6 hours ago
Blue Eel replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"I'm hoping Chiefy that some of the suggestions can hit the mark. For one the club must return to being open and transparent. Admit failings and improve them on the same token Celebrate the wins in recruitment and shout them loud and proud.…"
6 hours ago
Blue Eel replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"LB, I don't really want to get into who to sign , who to keep. I'm more trying to attack it from the angle, If Ryles wants them in the first place, then I trust that judgement. My concern is and has been are we able to sign whom has been identified…"
6 hours ago
Blue Eel replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"And that's what we need Parraboy. To improve the roster, to put to bed (my thoughts on missing targets) and to shut us fans up. All of us would love nothing more, would be my guess. I'm hoping your right."
7 hours ago
Parraboy replied to Blue Eel's discussion Should we be concerned !
"no shoot and hope. 
youz will be happy, trust me
it's about time "
7 hours ago
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