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Rarely that an English cricketer gets labeled as complaining in Australia, yet when the former captain was questioned regarding the need for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he gave an honest response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root responded before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular here in Australia, and the hosts boast a strong track record in these matches. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, we are aware well in advance it will happen. It’s part of being ready for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I don’t mind it. I don’t think it matches the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and we just need to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats see a drop in day-night games. The Yorkshire batsman has played each of the seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and although a hundred in his first such match against West Indies back in 2017, his career average of 50.9 drops to just over 38 in these games.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate of 49.9 in general, but those numbers shift to 17 and 33 correspondingly with the pink ball. During his most recent floodlit game, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for a meager 27—his best performance that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in Perth.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is emerging as one of the key contests in the Ashes. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, with them missing in the first Test, it was Starc who got him out for zero and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that may not reach to slip back home. His next dismissal, bowled chopping on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error on his part. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he noted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing could come into play. England, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome this week, and contributions by their top batsman could aid them recover from their own mistakes.

This may not require a hundred if another quick-fire match occurs, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” was his humble reply on being questioned if the stat weighed on him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Chance for History

Root and his teammates practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and additional scoring at number eight might offset any conceded runs.

However, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and remains an option should England choose pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was in the squad previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a venue where England haven’t won a Test for decades.

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