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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LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"He wont be it this year or next, more so 2027."
6 hours ago
Hell On Eels replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"X 3, BEM, Eli.
Really like Ryley's high-energy, while Iongi is pure class — a real footballer.
Both have the right attitude & commitment. They're exactly who we need."
6 hours ago
Hell On Eels replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"EA, Is RU recruit Lokeni ahead of Latu?
Like Lokeni, Moretti was also a centre in RU (dunno if it was inside or outside though).
We'll need these youngsters in the pack with grunt — like Tuivita, Lokeni, and Latu — to come good. 
 
PS: There was…"
6 hours ago
Mick aka Supreme Leader replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"That's inst breaking news."
6 hours ago
Mick aka Supreme Leader replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"In Jason we Trust. "
6 hours ago
Gaz Nelson replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"Maybe late in the halves when teams are tired. At 84kg he needs to hit the all you can buffet before he plays much lock or back row. "
6 hours ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"Still got work to do on his defence "
7 hours ago
Will 5150 replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"Awesome... love to see them operate like Drew and PJ used to. 20 min stints, always a fresh DH on the field and one can go longer if we get an injury in the forwards while the other covers the injury. A middle, an edge and ideally someone who can…"
7 hours ago
TolEllts replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"Good one Parra!"
7 hours ago
Darren Munro replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"Great reward for all the effort on and off the field. Congratulations young man! Love watching him play and is only going to get better "
7 hours ago
Speech replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"What is interesting is Matthew Hunter is picked again. He sealed the game last week with a try his second for the game. I hope we see highlights this week as his stats look great. Seems to know how to win but also when to be involved in the game."
7 hours ago
Muttman replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"It would seem so. 3rd and 4th string hooker isn't much of a job. "
7 hours ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"dang it"
8 hours ago
KingGutho replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"He played one game lol and most likely got injured.
if you look at RM cup team, it says he's out, also Hayne played the last game and he's out too, so who knows "
8 hours ago
Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Knights sign prestigious young half
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8 hours ago
CarloEEL2 replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Knights sign prestigious young half
"Stop it you two !!!!
no chance of that nonsense 
I'm still thinking Baldy is owed his " shit in a box" for fucking up the GF with giraffe on the bench . I could do a local delivery now 🤔😆"
9 hours ago
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