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It's not often that an English cricketer gets labeled as whinging down under, but when Joe Root was questioned regarding the need of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“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 Australia boast a strong record in these matches. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, you know from two years out that it’s scheduled. It’s part of preparing for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? 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 traditional Test cricket. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure to be better our opponents at it.”

Joe Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats see a drop in day-night games. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in all seven England's pink-ball matches so far, and although a hundred in his debut outing against West Indies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 drops to 38.5 under lights.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate of 49.9 overall, yet these figures improve to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly in day-night Tests. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he claimed six for nine as West Indies were bowled out for a meager 27—his best performance that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup between Root and Starc is shaping up to be one of the deciding factors in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, with them missing in the first Test, it was Starc who dismissed him for scores of zero and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that might not carry to slip back home. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, during England’s second-day collapse, was a miscalculation on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he stated. “I believe I will score runs again.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic nowadays—he admitted he should have listened his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing could be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome this week, and runs from their top batsman could aid in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century if another quick-fire match unfolds, yet Root's absence of a century on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” was his humble reply when asked whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Chance for History

The England squad trained intensely over the weekend, with hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be the frontrunner. His off-spin are adequate, and extra runs at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and is still in the mix should England choose pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was included previously. Much to think about, indeed, at a venue where the visitors haven’t won a match for decades.

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