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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Blue Eel replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"And that's exactly what was supposed to happen when he demanded his release 6 months ago. Club was prepared to release him then with nothing in return. Status quo remains. 
The only great outcome for us is he will never line up against us."
19 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"The issue we have now is we struggle to close deals for high tier talent players.That was an issue for this regime before this saga.
It still doesn't take away from us stopping Melbourne basically trying to run the table on us we stopped that and…"
24 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Kemp: Eels vs Storm R1 refereeing was 'Disgraceful"
"https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D6Sb9ND1F/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Nah there just well managed there success has very little todo with what the nrl want."
30 minutes ago
Muttman replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"We can't complain. This is precisely what was happening when we released him. We get his cap money to use elsewhere. We don't give our competitor (who just pumped us) a rep player to compete against us.Case closed. I never want to hear about this…"
31 minutes ago
RB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"They also offered 200k cap relief or 750k. Could've definitely helped. I wonder what other clubs were prepared to offer too."
35 minutes ago
Eli Stephens replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"Why would anyone be complaining, this was originally what his release was for. Glad it's over lol "
54 minutes ago
LB replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Kemp: Eels vs Storm R1 refereeing was 'Disgraceful"
"Considering the following night where Jenkins lost the ball in the tackle when it went forward and was called back? Funny who the team was that benefitted from it.
I mean it seems they don't even try to hide it anymore, it is like they think "Fans…"
58 minutes ago
SuperEel 22 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"Nope, this is exactly what we were demanding. Now he goes off to Rugby and Melbourne don't get an international."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"Though i have said i disagree taking the Melbourne deal, i do agree we missed out not getting something for him."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"But what take a player that Melbourne would rather debut two players ahead of just to get something for him? Meanwhile strengthening Melbourne in the process?"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"I disagree, Melbourne get stronger and we get nothing. Vaalepu and Pahulu weren't even near the 19 for Melbourne. I would rather him not benefit Melbourne more than take any 1 of those 2 players."
1 hour ago
RB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"How dumb could our club possibly be. Should've taken Melbournes offer."
1 hour ago
Bubba j replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"Good I don't want to hear his name again up there with the worst signings of all time"
1 hour ago
macybrown replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"Exactly! It's a big ask for clubs to want to deal with him for swap deal esp after season start, rosters set after he showed his extremely bad form. Hope everyone remembers he signed a contract that he then immediately said he didn't believe we…"
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Kemp: Eels vs Storm R1 refereeing was 'Disgraceful"
"Yes well if you don't respect possession,  you end up without the ball and no chance of getting an advantage through penalties "
1 hour ago
DYNASTY.LOADING replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax signs a 2y deal with Rugby Australia
"No one should complain now, I said we should take what we could get while we could. We got pumped by all the players that everyone said weren't good enough for a trade. "
1 hour ago
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