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It's not often for an England player is accused of whinging in Australia, yet when the former captain was questioned about the necessity of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he gave an honest answer.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “It’s obviously very successful and popular here in Australia, and Australia have an impressive record with the pink ball. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“Ultimately, you know well in advance that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of preparing for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? Probably not … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it’s as good as the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and we just need we outperform than Australia in these conditions.”

Root's Performance Under Lights Takes a Dip

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers take a hit in day-night games. The England star has played all seven England's pink-ball matches so far, and despite a hundred in his first outing against West Indies back in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 drops 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 with the pink ball. During his most recent floodlit game, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were bowled out for 27—his best performance that he bettered by taking seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup between Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential deciding factors in the Ashes. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, with them missing in the first Test, it was Starc who got him out for scores of zero and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket was just a good ball—the kind that might not carry the slips in England. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, amid second-day collapse, was an error by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I believe I will return to form.”

England's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble-seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and contributions by their top batsman could aid in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred should there be rapid shootout unfolds, yet Root's absence of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” was his humble reply when asked if the stat bothered him in Perth.

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. The key sessions are vital for their readiness, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the lineup, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are decent, and extra runs down the order might offset any bowling leaks.

However, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and is still in the mix if England opt for an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was included last week. Plenty to consider, then, at a ground where the visitors have not won a match for decades.

“It's an opportunity to make history,” Root said on this fact. “It would make it even more satisfying if we succeed at this ground.”