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Rarely that an English cricketer is accused of whinging down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered an honest answer.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root stated prior to England's net session in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular here in Australia, and the hosts have an impressive track record with the pink ball. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know from two years out it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. For a series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be included. I'm fine with it. In my opinion it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform than Australia at it.”

Root's Record Under Lights Suffers

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop in day-night games. The England star has played all seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and although a century in his debut such match against West Indies back in 2017, his career average above 50 falls to just over 38 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate around 50 overall, but those numbers improve to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly in day-night Tests. During his most recent floodlit game, against West Indies, he claimed six for nine as West Indies were dismissed for 27—his best performance that he bettered with seven wickets for 58 in Perth.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, with them missing 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 type that might not carry the slips in England. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, during England’s second-day collapse, was an error on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

England's Hurdles and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he noted he should have listened his teammates' advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing may also come into play. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and runs from their top batsman would help them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred should there be quick-fire match unfolds, yet Root's absence of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to think about it,” was his humble reply when asked whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Chance for History

Root and his teammates trained intensely over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for their readiness, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee has created an opening 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 down the order could balance any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere and remains an option if England opt for an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was in the squad last week. Much to think about, then, at a ground where the visitors haven’t won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to make history,” Root commented regarding this. “It would be all the sweeter if we win at this ground.”