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Rarely for an England player is accused of whinging down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he gave a straightforward answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “It’s obviously highly popular and popular in this country, and Australia have an impressive track record with the pink ball. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for such contests. For a series like this, does it need it? Probably not … but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be included. I'm fine with it. In my opinion it matches the conventional format. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure to be better our opponents at it.”

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

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats see a drop with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has played all seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and despite a century in his debut outing versus the Windies in 2017, his overall average above 50 falls to just over 38 in these games.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate of 49.9 overall, yet these figures shift to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly with the pink ball. In his last floodlit game, against West Indies, he took six for nine as West Indies were dismissed for 27—his best performance that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in Perth.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup between Root and Starc is emerging as one of the key contests in the Ashes. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, in their absence in the first Test, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for scores of zero and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the kind that may not reach the slips in England. The second, when he chopped on, during England’s second-day collapse, was a miscalculation on his part. “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 nowadays—he admitted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' 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 would help in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a hundred should there be rapid shootout unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn't get time to think about it,” he modestly answered on being questioned whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

The England squad practiced hard over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are vital for their readiness, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and extra runs at number eight might offset any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and remains an option 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 in over 40 years.

“It's an opportunity to create history,” Root commented regarding this. “It would be even more satisfying if we win at this ground.”