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Rarely that an English cricketer is accused of whinging in Australia, yet when Joe Root was questioned about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he gave an honest answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root replied before England's net session in Brisbane. “It’s obviously highly popular and popular in this country, and the hosts have an impressive record with the pink ball. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“In the end, we are aware well in advance that it’s scheduled. It’s part of preparing for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it matches the conventional format. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform than Australia in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Takes a Dip

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has featured in each of the seven of England’s floodlit Tests to date, and despite a century in his debut such match versus the Windies in 2017, his overall average above 50 drops to just over 38 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate of 49.9 in general, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly in day-night Tests. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he claimed six for nine as the opposition were dismissed for 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed with seven for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup between Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential key contests in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood usually caused him issues, with them missing last week, it was Starc who dismissed him for scores of a duck and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that might not carry the slips back home. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, during England’s the team's slump, was a miscalculation by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I believe I will score runs again.”

England's Challenges and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he noted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing could come into play. England, trailing 1-0, face additional obstacles this week, and contributions by their premier batter would help in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century should there be quick-fire match occurs, but Root’s lack of a century in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to think about it,” he modestly answered on being questioned whether that record bothered him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates trained intensely on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are vital for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee has created an opening in the team, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be in contention. His off-spin are decent, and additional scoring down the order could balance any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and remains an option should England choose an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was in the squad previously. Much to think about, then, at a venue where the visitors haven’t won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to make history,” Root commented regarding this. “It would make it all the sweeter if we win at this ground.”