Despite being forced to work for a draw in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, Australia are in the box seat to retain The Ashes on foreign soil.
Their 1-0 series lead, coupled with the win at home last series, means they need just one win over the last three Tests to keep the urn.
But the equation has become a lot more complicated, with Steve Smith’s absence from tonight’s third Test at Headingley arguably swinging the momentum back in England’s favour.
How can Australia overcome their skipper’s absence and secure a memorable win against the odds?
We got Roar cricket expert Glenn Mitchell on the Game of Codes podcast to preview tonight’s massive encounter and draw a path to victory for the visitors.
Listen to the discussion:
Jofra Archer’s scintillating Ashes debut had no bigger impact on Smith, with the Barbados-born pacemen felling the Aussie skipper with a ripping bouncer.
With well-documented struggles in the batting lineup – especially at the top of the order – Smith’s absence at the crease could be a huge turning point in the series.