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It's not often for an England player is accused of whinging down under, but when Joe Root faced questions about the necessity for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he offered a straightforward answer.

“My personal view is no,” Root responded before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly highly popular and well-received here in Australia, and Australia boast a strong track record with the pink ball. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, we are aware well in advance that it’s scheduled. It’s part of preparing for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it matches the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure to be better than Australia in these conditions.”

Root's Performance Under Lights Suffers

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has featured in all seven of England’s floodlit Tests to date, and despite a hundred in his first such match against West Indies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 drops to just over 38 in these games.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate of 49.9 overall, yet these figures improve to 17 and 33 respectively in day-night Tests. In his last floodlit game, against West Indies, he took six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were bowled out for 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed by taking seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup between Root and Starc is emerging as one of the deciding factors in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, with them missing in the first Test, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for a duck and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket was just a good ball—the type that might not carry the slips back home. The second, bowled chopping on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he noted he should have listened his teammates' advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing could be available. England, trailing 1-0, face additional obstacles in this Test, and runs from their premier batter could aid them recover from their own mistakes.

It might not need a hundred should there be rapid shootout unfolds, but Root’s lack of a century in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” he modestly answered on being questioned if the stat weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

The England squad practiced hard on Sunday, with hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for their readiness, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee has created an opening in the team, with Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are adequate, and additional scoring at number eight might offset any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and is still in the mix if England opt for an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was in the squad last week. Much to think about, indeed, at a ground where England haven’t won a Test in over 40 years.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root said on this fact. “It would be all the sweeter if we win here.”