'Gabbatoir' holds no fear for Ben Stokes and England in second Ashes Test

The imposing Queensland venue has long been a trump card for Australia, who revel in its intimidating nickname and history.

England won their first two Tests at the Gabba, in 1933 and 1936, but have only tasted success twice more in 20 attempts.

Since Mike Gatting captained his team to victory in the 1986 series it has been a reliably unhappy hunting ground, featuring moments like Nasser Hussain’s doomed decision to bowl first, Steve Harmison’s wayward opening delivery to second slip and Rory Burns’ first-ball dismissal by Mitchell Starc.

Even the draw in 2010/11 – which ended in a second innings run-fest for the tourists – began with a Peter Siddle hat-trick on the first day.

But Stokes, pictured, whose side go in 1-0 down after defeat in Perth, does not feel weighed down by what has come before.

“Lots of our guys are on their first Ashes tour so this is going to be a new experience for them. No, it doesn’t hold too much fear,” he said.

“Every time you go out there your juices are always flowing, regardless of the venue you do play at.

“For Australia, I guess the Gabba is a little bit like Edgbaston or Headingley are for us, where you take a lot of confidence at home if you’ve got good records at those grounds.

“You also understand that Australia know this is a very good ground for them but we’re excited for that.

“Obviously, records for teams go back a long, long time. Many teams have gone to the Gabba and lost to Australia but this is a brand new outfit.”

England are also aware that Australia have started to show signs of vulnerability here, losing to India in 2021 and to West Indies last year in their previous pink ball match at the ground.

“We know Australia have a good record here but, at the same time, we saw West Indies went and turned them over last time,” said Ollie Pope.

“We take that as a bit of a positive but, at the same time, we don’t try to look too much into those things as a team.

“We realise the challenge that it is going to pose but, at the same time, I think if we can put our best foot forward then, hopefully, we can get on the right side of the result.”

Wildcard Will Jacks has been catapulted into England’s team for the second Test, with the all-rounder preferred to Shoaib Bashir in Brisbane.

With paceman Mark Wood out injured, the tourists were always going to make one change to the team beaten in two days at Perth and preferred a slow bowling option over back-up seamers Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts.

Explaining the decision to draft Jacks out of leftfield when the original squad was announced, managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key said: “He isn’t the finished article as a spinner but he’s someone who might be able to hold an end up if we’re thinking spinners aren’t going to be the ones that define the series.”

Australia’s Usman Khawaja has been ruled out with a back injury.