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Rarely for an England player gets labeled as complaining down under, yet when the former captain was questioned regarding the need for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he offered an honest answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated prior to England's practice in Brisbane. “It’s obviously very successful and well-received in this country, and Australia boast a strong track record with the pink ball. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“In the end, we are aware well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of being ready for such contests. 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. I don’t think it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

Root's Record in Day-Night Tests Takes a Dip

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong numbers take a hit in day-night games. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in each of the seven of England’s pink-ball matches to date, and although a hundred in his first outing against West Indies in 2017, his career average above 50 falls to 38.5 under lights.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate of 49.9 in general, but those numbers shift to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he took six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were bowled out for 27—his best performance that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup between Root and Starc is emerging as one of the key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, in their absence in the first Test, the veteran Starc who got him out for zero and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the kind that might not carry the slips back home. The second, bowled chopping on, amid the team's slump, was a miscalculation on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he stated. “I believe I will return to form.”

England's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he admitted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing could be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and runs from their top batsman would help in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century should there be quick-fire match unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” was his humble reply on being questioned if the stat bothered him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Chance for History

The England squad trained intensely on Sunday, with hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. The key sessions are crucial for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

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

However, Josh Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and remains an option if England opt for an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included previously. Much to think about, then, at a ground where the visitors haven’t won a Test in over 40 years.

“It's an opportunity to create history,” Root said regarding this. “It would be even more satisfying if we win at this ground.”