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It's not often for an England player gets labeled as complaining down under, but when the former captain faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered a straightforward answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root replied prior to England's net session in Brisbane. “It’s obviously very successful and popular in this country, and the hosts boast a strong track record with the pink ball. You can understand why we’re playing.

“Ultimately, you know well in advance it will happen. It’s part of preparing for the series. 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. In my opinion it matches traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform our opponents in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Record in Day-Night Tests Declines

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop in day-night games. The England star has played all seven England's pink-ball matches to date, and despite a century in his debut outing against West Indies in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 in these games.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 and a strike rate around 50 overall, but those numbers shift to 17 and 33 correspondingly with the pink ball. In his last floodlit game, against West Indies, he claimed six for nine as West Indies were dismissed for 27—career-best figures that he bettered with seven wickets for 58 in Perth.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is emerging as one of the deciding factors in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, with them missing in the first Test, it was Starc who dismissed him for a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the kind that may not reach to slip back home. 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 stated. “I believe I will return to form.”

The Touring Side's Hurdles and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic nowadays—he admitted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in muggy conditions, swing could be available. England, down one match, face additional obstacles this week, and runs from their top batsman would help in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred if another quick-fire match occurs, yet Root's absence of a ton on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” was his humble reply on being questioned if the stat weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

The England squad trained intensely over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. The key sessions are crucial for their readiness, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable due to a knee issue has created an opening in the team, with Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are adequate, and additional scoring down the order might offset any conceded runs.

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

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