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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Yehez replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Agreed. I won't renew him no matter how well he plays. He was still sketchy yesterday. He is a good impact bench player against tired edges and Moses slipping him balls. "
2 hours ago
Yehez replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Hmmm. The only in would be Moretti for me. Maybe. I'd let him maybe have more time in reggies first. I'd keep Guymer. 
So basically, same team. Yes even De Belin. I want De Belin to be in the team first few rounds then things will change IMO. Him…"
3 hours ago
Gucci replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"The only change we need to make is Hopgood back to 13 and JDB to 18 man. Not sure why he needs a spot in the squad as he is only practically here for 1 year and really provides nothing more than what Hopgood or Doorey can do for 25min. Walker has…"
4 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Brisbane's play the ball speed was quicker, but later on we got control of the ruck, poking our nose through and getting on our elbows for quick play the balls, Brisbane were out on their feet. Tawha was having a tough time keeping up and Mam…"
5 hours ago
DYNASTY.LOADING replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Reckon they give their players a few weeks to get fit enough to do their job in Penrith? Hell, everyone on this site would go into meltdown if we signed Leka, but Webster has him on the bench because of standards. Kautoga isn't a first grader, it…"
5 hours ago
Michael W. replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Kautoga started the same last season, everyone wanted him out of the team. By the end of the year he was our most dangerous attacking weapon, and was hitting hard in defence. Give him time, he will come good."
5 hours ago
Michael W. replied to Blue Gold Legend's discussion Radradra, Hayne or Sivo - Most NRL Tries
"Irvine was a far better winger than Johnson. You could probably count on one hand how many tries Johnson created for himself, the majority were handed to him on a platter. Irvine could, and did, score a lot of long range tries with his speed and…"
5 hours ago
DYNASTY.LOADING replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Iongi
Bailey
Samrani
Russell
Fox
Pezet
Moses
Moretti
Smith
Doorey
Williams
Kelma
Hopgood
 
Walker
Paulo
Tuivaiti
Kautoga
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Twidle"
5 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Well to be fair, i see him and Doorey practically being the same player. I feel Moretti is more consistent though."
6 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Richie's chance would have been 2024, we debuted Jake Tago and Lorenzo Mulitalo. I reckon guaranteed Barrett would have thrown Richie a debut. But he did his ACL while BA was still there. Injuries after injuries, then Nanva getting on the scene as…"
6 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"I think they will sit Penisini til his groin is 100%. Why rush when Samrani did a job.
But other than that, i reckon 100% that is the team. Tuivaiti or Doorey would be the question of who misses out, with Tuilagi more likely being used off the bench…"
6 hours ago
Parra_Greg replied to Blue Gold Legend's discussion Radradra, Hayne or Sivo - Most NRL Tries
"Cmom Lets give Alex johnson his due .....amazing record broken he wasnt a convicted sex offender, a rugby convert or a flash in the pan super league wanna be"
6 hours ago
DYNASTY.LOADING replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Kelma has deadset played 1 good game and he is in a contract year. If he stays it's because he strings together 10 quality 60+ minute performances, and even then, on a low wage. Can't keep going around in these circles. "
6 hours ago
Parra_Greg replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"I dont give a rats about the line up ....this match at Home is a must win ...we will be favorites ...if we dont win the Broncos match is and was a fluke"
6 hours ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Blue Gold Legend's discussion Radradra, Hayne or Sivo - Most NRL Tries
"Semi would be the best bet. Need a lot of luck with injuries for any player to even think about achieving what Alex Johnston did"
7 hours ago
DYNASTY.LOADING replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"EA
who you got breaking through on the wing out of Rokosuka, Alameddine, or someone else? Richard P I feel may have fallen behind? Maybe not."
7 hours ago
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