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Rarely that an English cricketer is accused of whinging down under, yet when Joe Root was questioned regarding the need of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he offered an honest answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root responded prior to England's net session in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and well-received in this country, and the hosts boast a strong track record in these matches. You can understand why we’re playing.

“In the end, you know from two years out it will happen. It’s part of preparing for such contests. For a series like this, is it essential? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it matches traditional Test cricket. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and we just need to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Takes a Dip

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats take a hit with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has played each of the seven England's pink-ball matches so far, and despite a hundred in his debut outing versus the Windies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 drops to just over 38 in these games.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate of 49.9 overall, but those numbers shift to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively with the pink ball. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he took six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed by taking seven for 58 in Perth.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is emerging as one of the deciding factors in the Ashes. Although Cummins and Hazlewood usually caused him issues, in their absence last week, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for scores of zero and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that might not carry the slips in England. The second, when he chopped on, amid the team's slump, was a miscalculation on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he stated. “I believe I will score runs again.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Preparations

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he admitted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, trailing 1-0, face additional obstacles this week, and contributions by their top batsman could aid in recovering from their own mistakes.

This may not require a century should there be rapid shootout unfolds, but Root’s lack of a century in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn't get time to think about it,” he modestly answered on being questioned if the stat weighed on him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Chance for History

Root and his teammates trained intensely on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for their readiness, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable due to a knee issue has created an opening in the lineup, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and extra runs down the order might offset any conceded runs.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and remains an option should England choose pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was in the squad last week. Plenty to consider, indeed, at a venue where the visitors haven’t won a Test for decades.

“It's an opportunity to make history,” Root said on this fact. “It would make it all the sweeter if we succeed at this ground.”