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It's not often for an England player gets labeled as whinging in Australia, yet when Joe Root faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root replied before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular in this country, and Australia have an impressive record in these matches. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, you know from two years out it will happen. It's a requirement of being ready for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? I don’t think so … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. I'm fine with it. In my opinion it’s as good as the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and we just need we outperform than Australia at it.”

Root's Performance Under Lights Takes a Dip

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers take a hit in day-night games. The England star has played each of the seven of England’s floodlit Tests so far, and despite a hundred in his first such match versus the Windies back in 2017, his career average above 50 drops to 38.5 in these games.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate around 50 in general, yet these figures improve to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively with the pink ball. During his most recent floodlit game, against West Indies, 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 Could Shape Series

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is emerging as a potential deciding factors in the Ashes. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, in their absence last week, it was Starc who dismissed him for scores of zero and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket was just a good ball—the type that might not carry to slip back home. His next dismissal, bowled chopping on, during England’s second-day collapse, was an error on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he noted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing could come into play. England, down one match, face additional obstacles in this Test, and contributions by their premier batter would help them recover from their own mistakes.

This may not require a hundred should there be rapid shootout unfolds, but Root’s lack of a century on Australian soil remains a talking point. “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 over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are crucial for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee has created an opening in the team, with Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be in contention. His off-breaks are decent, and additional scoring at number eight could balance any bowling leaks.

That said, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and remains an option if England opt for an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was included previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a venue where England have not won a Test for decades.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root commented on this fact. “It would make it all the sweeter if we succeed at this ground.”