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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KENDOZA replied to Coryn Hughes's discussion Here’s hoping.
"Jarryd hayne taking the piss saying su'a is to young for the eels to consider"
23 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"Leota is a chance"
43 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"Not the end of the recruitment drive"
44 minutes ago
RB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"This pushes Williams back to the middle and strengthens that"
1 hour ago
Richard Jackson replied to Joel K's discussion Bulldogs and Dolphins in talks with Apa Twidle
"EA, if I'd seen any deficiences in his defense I'd mention it, for sure. But I haven't. What I do see is a natural ball-player who leads and inspires and I'm sold! Time will tell."
2 hours ago
EA replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"His transition to the wing actually started last year in schoolboy footy. Had a great league carnival."
3 hours ago
EA replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"Bloomfield's attack this year has genuinely been elite. He struggled last year at centre in HM even though he was one of our best players in 2024 HM at fullback. He transition to the wing this year and wow he has improved. His aerial ability this…"
4 hours ago
EA replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"Exactly I said in 2 years ago. Such Kolomantangi vibes. He isn't a tackle breaker but he has a good enough motor and leg drive to earn plenty of meters through the middle. I think they will start the transition into the middle next year when Latu…"
4 hours ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
""
4 hours ago
Trent replied to Coryn Hughes's discussion Here’s hoping.
"Go alright I guess"
4 hours ago
LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"If they believe Burton will be better then who cares."
5 hours ago
LB replied to Coryn Hughes's discussion Here’s hoping.
"Not a lot out there, we got best forward available."
5 hours ago
Parrafan101 replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"Leota maybe unlikely, Burton could be big. But i don't know if parra want to risk losing lorenzo."
5 hours ago
Parrafan101 replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"LB itd be a dream to have them both here with our young forwards coming in too."
5 hours ago
TolEllts replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"Hope our retention don't bungle this one and keep him signed long term."
5 hours ago
Blaze replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Bro
"If we had salary cap space i would also target. Leota, tago and burton.
2027 team list
1.Iongi
2.adocar
3.pesini
4.tago
5. Simonson
6.burton
7.mosses
8.leota
9.smith
10.paulo
11. Jack willians
12. Sua
13. Hopgood
 
14. Tuivati
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5 hours ago
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Keaon done deal

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