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It's not often that an English cricketer is accused of whinging in Australia, 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.

“My personal view is no,” Root responded prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly highly popular and well-received in this country, and the hosts boast a strong track record in these matches. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, we are aware well in advance that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. 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 must ensure to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Declines

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats see a drop with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in each of the seven of England’s pink-ball matches so far, and although a century in his debut such match against West Indies back in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 under lights.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate around 50 overall, yet these figures shift to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly with the pink ball. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he took six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were dismissed for 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed by taking seven wickets for 58 in Perth.

Key Battle Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is emerging as a potential deciding factors in the Ashes. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, with them missing in the first Test, it was Starc who dismissed him for zero and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket was just a good ball—the type that may not reach to slip back home. The second, when he chopped on, amid second-day collapse, was an error by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

England's Challenges and Preparations

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing may also come into play. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and contributions by their top batsman could aid in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a hundred if another quick-fire match unfolds, yet Root's absence 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 whether that record bothered him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for their readiness, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable due to a knee issue has created an opening in the team, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be in contention. His off-breaks are adequate, and additional scoring down the order could balance any conceded runs.

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

“It is a chance to create history,” Root said regarding this. “It would make it all the sweeter if we succeed here.”