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.

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Latest comments

Randy Handlinger replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"That we have a better recruitment team than anyone at all is not obvious to me."
1 minute ago
Gucci replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"Dragons paid 900k for Metcalf, 900k for Drinkwater, have Gutherson contracted still for next season at $900k, have Keaon on $1.2mil, Val on $700k. How? They have spent half their cap on 5 players? Is this good recruitment? They don't even have a…"
8 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"Peter O'Sullivan for me I'm looking at the talent he's managed in conjunction with others to get to Newcastle and the Dolphins at his most recent stops would just about do it for me.
I mean St George tried to get him before he took the Newcastle job."
8 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"Daz, quick question...if we leave MON plodding along (I mean, no-one would say that he is crushing it, right?) when would be the appropriaye time to shuffle him along? 10yrs? 15? but won't it just be more scapegoating then? Or must we wait for an…"
9 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"They are 0-9 yeah great recruitment"
13 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"And are 0-9"
13 minutes ago
Randy Handlinger replied to EA's discussion What is your NSW team?
"That's his point...we need someone who is has the ability to convince some not to."
22 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"Metcalf will be 28 when he starts the season next year. 1 mill is way to much he's played 43 games in 5 years. Yes he went well last year until he got injured but the hype around him atm is ridiculous. Even the dogs pulled out of the race once they…"
23 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"I don't think it's poor decisions necessarily.I think the club hasn't got the pulling power off the park the others have and won't go past a certain point.Which in retrospect is great BUT when your forty years deep in a vortex running bottom 4 in…"
23 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"They won't because they have nothing to put forward apart from some obscure vested interest to keep the current regime there as long as possible.  "
1 hour ago
mongolian trotting duck replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"he could still work at fox just like gus at 9"
1 hour ago
Parra_Greg replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"100% agree Chief.....The MON apologists need to put their case forward for the status quo....at present I can only see us eclipsing the sharks (49 year), Rabbits (43 years) to 50 years no premiership I guess........
With many calling the dragons a…"
1 hour ago
mongolian trotting duck replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"isnt anderson a talent scout not a gm daz?"
1 hour ago
mongolian trotting duck replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Metcalf Dragons bound.
"cook and sua gone next year"
1 hour ago
HH - Love You Iongi Time! replied to EA's discussion What is your NSW team?
"I don't enjoy watching Guymer play at present, however, I have said previously he needs to get some air in his lungs to compete at the super demanding pace that FG sets. I will judge him more on his game when he is able to build his motor up to such…"
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to EA's discussion What is your NSW team?
"What u talking about willis "
1 hour ago
More…

Keaon done deal

As of Thursday, December 11, 2025, South Sydney Rabbitohs forwardKeaon Koloamatangi has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Parramatta Eels, but it is not yet officially announced by the clubs.  Soon to be announced.

Read more…
14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
Views: 2418

 

<script src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Sidebar -->
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<script>// <![CDATA[
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
// ]]></script>