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It's not often for an England player gets labeled as complaining in Australia, but when the former captain was questioned about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he gave a straightforward response.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular here in Australia, and Australia 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 being ready for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I don’t mind 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.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Suffers

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 floodlit Tests to date, and despite a century in his debut outing against West Indies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 and a strike rate of 49.9 overall, but those numbers improve to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively with the pink ball. In his last floodlit game, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were dismissed for 27—career-best figures that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup between Root and Starc is emerging as a potential 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 scores of zero and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the type that might not carry the slips in England. The second, when he chopped on, during England’s second-day collapse, was a miscalculation by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he noted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome in this Test, and contributions by their premier batter would help in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a century if another rapid shootout occurs, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” he modestly answered when asked whether that record weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

The England squad practiced hard over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are crucial 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 hints he could be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and additional scoring down the order could balance any conceded runs.

However, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and is still in the mix should England choose pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included previously. Much to think about, then, at a ground where the visitors have not won a match in over 40 years.

“It's an opportunity to make history,” Root said on this fact. “It would make it all the sweeter if we win here.”