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It's not often that an English cricketer gets labeled as whinging in Australia, yet when the former captain was questioned regarding the need of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered an honest answer.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root stated prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “It’s obviously very successful and popular here in Australia, and Australia boast a strong track record with the pink ball. You can understand why we’re playing.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of being ready for the series. For a series like this, is it essential? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it matches traditional Test cricket. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and we just need to be better than Australia at it.”

Joe Root's Record Under Lights Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in each of the seven England's pink-ball matches so far, and despite a century in his debut such match versus the Windies back in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 falls 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, yet these figures shift to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively in day-night Tests. In his last floodlit game, in Jamaica, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were bowled out for a meager 27—career-best figures that he bettered with seven for 58 in Perth.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally 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 that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the kind that may not reach to slip in England. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he admitted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome in this Test, and runs from their top batsman would help in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

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

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates practiced hard over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee has created an opening in the team, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be in contention. His off-spin are adequate, and extra runs down the order could balance any bowling leaks.

That said, seamer Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and remains an option if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, then, at a ground where England haven’t won a match in over 40 years.

“It's an opportunity to create history,” Root commented on this fact. “It would be all the sweeter if we win at this ground.”