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Rarely that an English cricketer is accused of whinging down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he offered a straightforward answer.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded prior to England's net session at the Gabba. “Clearly very successful and popular in this country, and Australia have an impressive track record in these matches. You can understand why we’re playing.

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

Root's Record in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers take a hit in day-night games. The England star has featured in all seven of 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 falls to 38.5 in these games.

On the other hand, bowler 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 with the pink ball. During his most recent floodlit game, in Jamaica, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for a meager 27—career-best figures that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential key contests in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, with them missing last week, the veteran Starc who got him out for scores of zero and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the kind that might not carry to slip back home. His next dismissal, bowled chopping on, during England’s the team's slump, 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 Hurdles and Readiness

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, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome in this Test, and contributions by their top batsman would help them recover from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century if another quick-fire match unfolds, yet Root's absence of a century in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” he modestly answered on being questioned if the stat weighed on him in Perth.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

The England squad trained intensely on Sunday, with hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable due to a knee issue has created an opening in the team, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and extra runs at number eight might offset any conceded runs.

That said, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and remains an option should England choose pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, then, at a venue where England have not won a Test in over 40 years.

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