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Rarely for an England player is accused of whinging in Australia, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root responded prior to England's net session in Brisbane. “Clearly highly popular and popular here in Australia, and Australia have an impressive record with the pink ball. You can understand why we’re playing.

“In the end, we are aware from two years out it will happen. It’s part of being ready for the series. For a series like this, is it essential? I don’t think so … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it matches traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We have to participate, and must ensure to be better than Australia at it.”

Joe Root's Record in Day-Night Tests Takes a Dip

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has featured in each of the seven of England’s pink-ball matches to date, and although a hundred in his debut such match versus the Windies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 drops to just over 38 in these games.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate around 50 in general, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 respectively in day-night Tests. In his last floodlit game, in Jamaica, he took six for nine as West Indies were dismissed for 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed with seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup of Root and Starc is shaping up to be one of the key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually caused him issues, in their absence last week, it was 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 may not reach to slip back home. The second, bowled chopping on, amid second-day collapse, was a miscalculation on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I believe I will return to form.”

England's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also come into play. England, down one match, face additional obstacles in this Test, and runs from their premier batter would help in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century should there be quick-fire match unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” was his humble reply when asked if the stat weighed on him in Perth.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates practiced hard over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be the frontrunner. His off-breaks are decent, and extra runs down the order might offset any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere and is still in the mix if England opt for an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included previously. Much to think about, then, at a venue where the visitors haven’t won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root commented regarding this. “It would be even more satisfying if we win at this ground.”