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It's not often that an English cricketer gets labeled as complaining in Australia, yet when Joe Root faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he gave a straightforward answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly highly popular and popular here in Australia, and the hosts boast a strong record with the pink ball. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It’s part of preparing for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it matches traditional Test cricket. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform our opponents in these conditions.”

Root's Record Under Lights Declines

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats take a hit in day-night games. The Yorkshire batsman has played all seven of England’s floodlit Tests to date, and although a century in his first such match against West Indies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 drops to 38.5 under lights.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate of 49.9 overall, but those numbers shift to 17 and 33 correspondingly with the pink ball. In his last floodlit game, in Jamaica, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were bowled out for 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed with seven wickets for 58 in Perth.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup of Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually troubled him more, in their absence last week, it was Starc who got him out for a duck and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that might not carry the slips in England. The second, bowled chopping on, during England’s second-day collapse, was an error by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I believe I will return to form.”

England's Challenges and Preparations

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he should have listened his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in muggy conditions, swing may also be available. England, down one match, face additional obstacles this week, and runs from their top batsman would help them recover from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century if another quick-fire match unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton 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

Root and his teammates practiced hard over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for their readiness, held under lights.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee has created an opening in the team, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen hints he could be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are decent, and extra runs down the order could balance any conceded runs.

However, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and is still in the mix if England opt for an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, indeed, at a ground where England haven’t won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root commented on this fact. “It would make it even more satisfying if we win here.”