Stokes needs a miracle at world's most hostile ground

All-rounder Jacks replaces injured Wood in second Test

- CAMERON PONSONBY

Tower of London, Edinburgh Castle, Agra Fort... The Gabba. A sporting fortress for Australian cricket to lean on, with England already playing catch-up in the Ashes.

"It's the most uncomfortable I've been on a cricket field." former England cricketer Mark Butcher said in 2017 of playing at the Gabbatoir. "It hurt your eyeballs. You couldn't even blink properly."

The venue is synonymous with Australian cricketing dominance, as the series resumes following the stunning two-day blitz of Ben Stokes's men in Perth. The shell-shocked tourists, who had the first Test in control at lunch on day two, only to capitulate and succumb to a violent, inspiring innings from Travis Head, face a daunting reintroduction to Ashes cricket. The multi-coloured seats to give an illusion of a full-house, heat hazes caused by the intense Queensland sun and 11 green baggys swarming and hollering as another wilting tourist plays an ill-judged shot. England have not won here since 1986. For 32 years, between 1989 and 2021, no one else won here at all. Just... those guys.

"Can't wait to get you at The Gabba," was former Aussie captain Tim Paine's famous sledge to Ravichandran Ashwin in 2021. "Ooph, wait until you get to The Gabba." A week later and India had gone to the Gabba. And won. The hoodoo was lifted.