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

Axel replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Buzz Rothfeild SMH - A Howarth Lomax Swap Deal?
"Journos must have a bonus plan centered around how many Eels stories they can generate every month.  Especially in the off seaon LOL"
5 minutes ago
macybrown replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax hires lawyers against Parramatta
"Storm prob advised no problem we can sort that es given the circumstances of Katoa being out they'll be very confident thry can work that. Reckon he sought legal advice before signing can't imagine his manager  be thst stupid not too.
it's so much…"
15 minutes ago
HKF replied to Eli Stephens's discussion 2026 team 😍
"Kautoga in for kelma."
21 minutes ago
GM replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Buzz Rothfeild SMH - A Howarth Lomax Swap Deal?
"💯👌"
22 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax hires lawyers against Parramatta
"I really think the Storm have been in Lomax's ear way before we all think.  Id say as soon as 360 fell through,  the Storm were in contact pushing him to go ahead with wanting the release.   
Also so conveniently they have a million just sitting in…"
27 minutes ago
macybrown replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Buzz Rothfeild SMH - A Howarth Lomax Swap Deal?
"What happens in relation to Lomax here is a massive deal not just for nrl as a whole, but us too.  why have  clauses and conditions  if no one follows them at all??  there should be no exchanges at all. Doing so definitely makes us look like turkeys…"
30 minutes ago
The Badger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax hires lawyers against Parramatta
"Daz, excellent expansion in my statement. May I add that Folau was sacked and thus took RA to court for unfair dismissal reasons. RA probably felt the court costs and commercial issues outweighed 'winning' in court. 
As you stated, this settlement…"
47 minutes ago
Eli Stephens replied to Eli Stephens's discussion 2026 team 😍
"Taulagi is that strike edge you can play for 25/30 min. Jack can move into middle "
57 minutes ago
Prof. Daz replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax hires lawyers against Parramatta
"I imagine a non-compete clause is intended to prevent competing within a domain of activity, not all domains of activity? So, non-compete within NRL, not within all league or union codes?"
1 hour ago
adnan replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax hires lawyers against Parramatta
"i dont understand. He agreed to the terms before he left. Can you possibly have a leg to stand on? Is he going to say they held a gun to my head and thats why i signed it?"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion 2026 team 😍
"I think that is pretty spot on, Kautoga for Tuilagi and either Guymer or Tuivaiti for Moretti. Tuilagi though seems to be odds on for a 17 spot based on his pre-season, so maybe the bench is Da Silva, Walker, Moretti, Tuilagi. That is not a bad…"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Buzz Rothfeild SMH - A Howarth Lomax Swap Deal?
"Yeah was 19th man for Game III but pulled out due to having appendicitis."
1 hour ago
Prof. Daz replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Lomax hires lawyers against Parramatta
"The Badger raised the analogy of Israel Falou vs Rugby, an undisclosed settlement, which is quite interesting. If we take the Falou case as an analogy to Lomax's purported legal case, both the analogies and the disanalogies don't suggest a…"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Buzz Rothfeild SMH - A Howarth Lomax Swap Deal?
"Right and you have never claimed to know someone has felt a certain way or there is something going on that we do not know about? You have done that thousands of times here and call people idiots for not following suit. Those in glass houses Pops."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Buzz Rothfeild SMH - A Howarth Lomax Swap Deal?
"We don't necassarily but if Liam Martin comes to you and says i want to play here are you going to say no as you are not a back? I am not saying Howarth will be Martin level but talent nonetheless, high upside. We signed Kelly for a reason, if we…"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Buzz Rothfeild SMH - A Howarth Lomax Swap Deal?
"Well to see how he goes in NRL. He has only played Centre at NRL level where he is an edge by trade. Melbourne are pushing for a GF again and lost their best back-rower. We on the hand can take a risk of playing him there and see if he can develop…"
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 Tin Tim Jan 1, 2026
Views: 1834

ANY MORE SIGNINGS???

I've been frustrated recently about the work we have been doing in the open market. Jonah's alright for a year and JDB is solid but he's getting old. I feel we need more in the forwards and some a replacement outside back. All I have seen is links…

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 182

 

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