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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Parra_Greg replied to Parra_Greg's discussion Next Five Weeks at Home
"Really shows how important Thursday win was .  Im sure Ryles would take 50% for that road trip"
5 minutes ago
Tin Tim replied to Herbert Hamilton's discussion Fight off spoon again
"Dribbler!"
6 minutes ago
Clintorian replied to Parra_Greg's discussion Next Five Weeks at Home
"Wow, we can't complain about the early tough rounds if that's the run we get without leaving Sydney. Time to put some pts on that ladder!
Dragons > Panthers > Tigers > Titans > Bulldogs > Eagles > Warriors.
Four of those are easily winnable.…"
9 minutes ago
Mallee57 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"What's the point of now having an extended bench of 6 players instead on 4 when you can still only use 4 which is basically the same. It would be better if all 6 could be used."
24 minutes ago
The Badger replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Why did fans want Ryles head after 1 game ?
"You're absolutely right. Everything is going great with our R&R. We are retaining our rep players and signing everyone we go after 
 
(written in sarcastica font)"
33 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger commented on Acme’s status
"G'day Acme, I've been reading here daily but the state of the world right now has my mind, emotions and commenting elsewhere. I'm trying to convince myself that with Ukraine and Iran the opening salvos of ww3 haven't been fired. I'm stressed right…"
36 minutes ago
Parra_Greg replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Why did fans want Ryles head after 1 game ?
"The only issue I have with MON is that we are preparing a good half back for a team full of champions in the Broncos.....in 2027."
56 minutes ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"That's why you start Kelma off the bench. When we make the first interchange, you bring Kelma on and shift Williams into the middle"
1 hour ago
Eli Stephens replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Why did fans want Ryles head after 1 game ?
"True as. A good sign to me was Hopgood Pensini both out and 2 players slotted in no drama. Tells me his system is starting to sink in and we will look more Melbourne like as time goes on. Just needs time to coach it all into them "
1 hour ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Alamadine is in JF. Roksuka is in SG ball. So Richie and Nanva are at the top of the pecking order for youngsters. JF and Cup have a bye this week so I will wait a few rounds before making judgement on those players. In SG ball I want to see how…"
1 hour ago
Eli Stephens replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Why did fans want Ryles head after 1 game ?
"I get the expectations were very high but we dropped the ball every 2 seconds and storm had all the running. Was always going to be a flogging if the players couldn't complete a set. Ryles has a good 2-3 years of good grace in my books to make the…"
1 hour ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Moretti also had a very good combo with Walker"
1 hour ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"I won't be happy if Tuivita misses out. He needs to play every game for sure. "
1 hour ago
Acme replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Why did fans want Ryles head after 1 game ?
"People were expecting our form from late last year to carry into the new season. When that didn't happen, people got frustrated and responded in an emotional way. It's called passion, and people deal with it in diffeent ways.
You're only as good as…"
2 hours ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay
"Yes I agree with this team, I think its the strongest line up.  To be fair I even think Moretti should be in front of Debelin. 
However,  I think Ryles knows that Debelin will play strongly against the club that didn't want him, and give him the…"
2 hours ago
Adam Magrath replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Why did fans want Ryles head after 1 game ?
"Yep"
2 hours ago
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Keaon done deal

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