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Rarely that an English cricketer is accused of whinging in Australia, yet when Joe Root was questioned about the necessity for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root responded prior to England's net session in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and well-received here in Australia, and Australia have an impressive track record with the pink ball. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? 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 on the calendar. We have to participate, and we just need we outperform our opponents in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Suffers

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong numbers see a drop with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has played all seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and despite a century in his first outing against West Indies back in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to 38.5 in these games.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate around 50 in general, but those numbers improve to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly in day-night Tests. During his most recent floodlit game, against West Indies, he took six for nine as West Indies were dismissed for a meager 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed by taking seven wickets for 58 in Perth.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is emerging as a potential deciding factors in the Ashes. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually caused him issues, in their absence last week, the veteran Starc who got him out for scores of a duck and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the type that may not reach the slips in England. The second, bowled chopping on, amid second-day collapse, was an error on his part. “I know I’m a good player,” 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 noted he should have listened his teammates' advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also come into play. England, down one match, have more to overcome this week, and contributions by their top batsman would help them recover from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century should there be quick-fire match unfolds, yet Root's absence of a century on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” he modestly answered on being questioned if the stat bothered him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates practiced hard over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee has created an opening in the lineup, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen hints he could be the frontrunner. His off-spin are adequate, and additional scoring down the order could balance any bowling leaks.

However, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and remains an option if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was in the squad last week. Much to think about, indeed, at a venue where the visitors have not won a match in over 40 years.

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