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Teams:

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine(w/c), James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

England (Playing XI): Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root(c), Joe Denly, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow(w), Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach

“England unchanged, but…” reports Vithushan. “crucially Ben Stokes at 5, Bairstow at 6, Buttler at 7.”

England have won the toss and have opted to field

“To go by Australia’s slip cordon: it looks like Marcus Harris plays, along with Marnus Labuschagne.” reports Vithushan from Leeds. “Thus, it looks like Cameron Bancroft is missing out, along with Steve Smith. Pattinson marking up his run up – in for Siddle, by all accounts.”

10:53 Local Time, 15:23 IST: The toss will now be at 11.05 local with play starting at 11.20. Okay. Yay!

Well the pitch is still under covers. There’s a very slight unhelpful drizzle going around too. Still, still, it’s going to be really brave of either side to be opting to bowl.

10:35 Local, 15:05 IST: So some things in life are self assumed. Cricket, England, rain and delayed starts. It’s just official now.

It was once said that at the toss in Headingly, you look up and not down to decide. But given how dull the surfaces have been for Yorkshire’s fixtures this season and how flat limited-overs games have become, both captains would be desperate to bat first. It should be a far cry from what things were during the last Ashes Test out here in 2009 when England were just blown away by an innings. We are hearing there was a bit of rain overnight and it is quite overcast, but still, it’ll be a massive gamble not to bat first here.

10:05 local: Alas, our three-day forever wasn’t enough for Steven Smith to come out of his concussion and come back out there to get back to leaving balls outside off. It also is apparently not enough to risk the quick bowlers for two matches in a row, which, if signals coming out of both camps are to be trusted, means the Pattinson should be back to give Siddle his due break now, and Sam Curran could be a like-for-like concussion-less replacement for Woakes. Mitchell Starc, although given a long workout in the nets, doesn’t have anyone yet to give a break to.

9:50 UKT | 14:20 IST | Head-in-glee: Some weirdos call it back-to-back Tests for some reason, but this three day wait almost seemed like forever. Things really couldn’t have been better poised — ten dramatic days, a million fortune-oscillations and a 1-0 scoreline against the home side. And we were told she was dying?! Anyway, I am Vineet Anantharaman doing my bit to keep the rains off Leeds as I wave you loyal folk a hello. Bring it on already, please ..

Preview by Rob Johnston

Australia need just one more victory to retain the Ashes. If England are to win, they have to shut their opponents out for the remaining three games. A bad day or a bad session could be the end of their attempt to wrestle the urn from Australian hands. Whatever the change in dynamic brought about by Jofra Archer’s explosive debut and the absence of Steve Smith for the third Test at Headingley which begins on Thursday (August 22), that is the reality confronting both teams. England may go on and win the Ashes, but right now, Australia are still favourites to retain them.

Not that the home team will lack confidence after a decent display at Lord’s. The absence of Smith due to the concussion he suffered in the second Test is also a huge blow to Australia considering the weakness of the rest of their batting order. Both openers are horribly out of form, as is captain Tim Paine who has played ordinary shots in both games. The middle order has also shown it is prone to losing wickets in clumps.