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Rarely that an English cricketer gets labeled as complaining in Australia, but when the former captain faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he offered a straightforward answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated before England's net session at the Gabba. “It’s obviously very successful and well-received here in Australia, and Australia have an impressive track record with the pink ball. You can understand why we’re playing.

“In the end, we are aware well in advance that it’s scheduled. It’s part of being ready 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 don’t mind it. I don’t think it matches traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure we outperform than Australia at it.”

Joe Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Declines

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong numbers take a hit with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in each of the seven of England’s floodlit Tests to date, and despite a hundred in his debut such match versus the Windies in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 falls to 38.5 under lights.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate around 50 overall, but those numbers shift to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively with the pink ball. In his last floodlit game, against West Indies, he took six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for 27—career-best figures that he bettered with seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually troubled him more, with them missing last week, it was Starc who got him out for scores of zero and eight.

Root later reasoned that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the type that may not reach to slip in England. His next dismissal, bowled chopping 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 score runs again.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble-seam as his main tactic these days—he noted he should have listened his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing could come into play. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and runs from their premier batter would help them recover from their own mistakes.

This may not require a hundred if another quick-fire match unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” was his humble reply on being questioned if the stat weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

The England squad trained intensely on Sunday, with hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are vital for England’s preparations, 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 in contention. His off-spin are decent, and extra runs at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

However, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere and remains an option if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was in the squad previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a venue where England have not won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root commented on this fact. “It would be all the sweeter if we succeed at this ground.”