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Rarely for an England player gets labeled as whinging in Australia, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular in this country, and Australia boast a strong record in these matches. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, you know from two years out it will happen. It’s part of preparing for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it’s as good as 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 Takes a Dip

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats take a hit with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in each of the seven England's pink-ball matches to date, and although a century in his debut such match versus the Windies back in 2017, his career average above 50 falls to 38.5 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 and a strike rate of 49.9 in general, but those numbers improve to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly with the pink ball. During his most recent floodlit game, against West Indies, he took six for nine as the opposition were dismissed for a meager 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed by taking seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup of Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, with them missing last week, the veteran Starc who got him out for scores of zero and eight.

Root later reasoned that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the kind that may not reach to slip back home. His next dismissal, bowled chopping on, during England’s second-day collapse, was an error by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I believe I will score runs again.”

England's Hurdles and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing may also be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and runs from their premier batter would help them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

It might not need a century should there be quick-fire match unfolds, yet Root's absence of a century in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” was his humble reply when asked whether that record weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection and Chance for History

The England squad practiced hard on Sunday, with hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are vital for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable due to a knee issue has created an opening in the team, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be in contention. His off-breaks are decent, and additional scoring at number eight might offset any conceded runs.

That said, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere and remains an option if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was in the squad previously. Much to think about, then, at a venue where England have not won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root commented on this fact. “It would make it even more satisfying if we succeed here.”