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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Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓's discussion O’Neill Era Marked by Damning Lack of Junior Development at Parramatta
"Don't count on o'neill.  Utokimanu,  Khafusi,  Twal, Blaze, Sanders - the best of our junior talent .  Good luck with hoping O'neill has an eye for talent.   "
3 minutes ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓's discussion O’Neill Era Marked by Damning Lack of Junior Development at Parramatta
"I have been told that Perth Bears scouts have been attending eels junior games of recent and circling on some of our juniors. So maybe expect some announcements soon of them poaching our juniors. O'Niel better have locked the best ones up long term."
10 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓's discussion O’Neill Era Marked by Damning Lack of Junior Development at Parramatta
"So 8 years isn't enough??? Ok.if we didn't have the right players in our development systems,  why didn't we recruit young players from elsewhere just as Penrith did from country league, or identified from other clubs and brought into our flegg or…"
23 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓's discussion O’Neill Era Marked by Damning Lack of Junior Development at Parramatta
"Stefano was already progressing through our systems as a future elite before O'neill arrived. Was lost to the Tigers when o'neill arrived at Parramatta.   Thats another stuff up on O'neill's resume."
26 minutes ago
Gucci replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓's discussion O’Neill Era Marked by Damning Lack of Junior Development at Parramatta
"I'm pretty sure Stefano played Origin."
30 minutes ago
Longfin Eel replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓's discussion O’Neill Era Marked by Damning Lack of Junior Development at Parramatta
"You do realise that the whole juniors system was failing previously? You can't just generate NRL-ready players from nothing, it takes years to get there. We are just starting to see the fruits of that system now, but the trick will be in the last…"
38 minutes ago
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"And worst run club in the southern hemisphere "
49 minutes ago
Mallee57 replied to John Boyle's discussion Concerning Stat - Moses
"probably correct that's why he doesn't designate another goal kicker because he enjoys missing them. Shhh"
1 hour ago
SuperEel 22 replied to Coryn Hughes's discussion Whose this battler.
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1 hour ago
Offside replied to Coryn Hughes's discussion Whose this battler.
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1 hour ago
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Michael W. replied to John Boyle's discussion Concerning Stat - Moses
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7 hours ago
Michael W. replied to John Boyle's discussion Concerning Stat - Moses
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fishbulb replied to Coryn Hughes's discussion Whose this battler.
"The great strength and weakness of the internet. Anyone can put their ideas and feelings out there, no matter insightful or unhinged they may be."
7 hours ago
Mallee57 replied to John Boyle's discussion Concerning Stat - Moses
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