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It's not often that an English cricketer is accused of whinging down under, but when Joe Root faced questions about the necessity for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he offered an honest response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated prior to England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and well-received in this country, and Australia have an impressive track record in these matches. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, we are aware well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? I don’t think so … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I'm fine with it. In my opinion it’s as good as the conventional format. But it's on the calendar. We have to participate, and must ensure to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats take a hit in day-night games. The England star has played all seven England's floodlit Tests to date, and although a century in his debut outing against West Indies back in 2017, his overall average above 50 falls to just over 38 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 and a strike rate of 49.9 in general, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 respectively in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he took six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were bowled out for a meager 27—his best performance that he bettered with seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Root vs Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup between Root and Starc is shaping up to be one of the key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually troubled him more, with them missing last week, it was Starc who got him out for scores of a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that might not carry to slip in England. The second, bowled chopping on, amid second-day collapse, was an error on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he stated. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

England's Hurdles and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he admitted he should have listened his teammates' advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing may also come into play. England, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome in this Test, and runs from their top batsman could aid them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred should there be rapid shootout unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” he modestly answered on being questioned whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates trained intensely over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are vital for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be the frontrunner. His off-breaks are decent, and extra runs down the order could balance any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and is still in the mix should England choose an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a venue where England haven’t won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to make history,” Root said regarding this. “It would make it even more satisfying if we win at this ground.”