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Rarely for an England player gets labeled as complaining down under, yet when the former captain was questioned about the necessity for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he gave an honest response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated before England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly highly popular and popular here in Australia, and the hosts boast a strong record with the pink ball. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“Ultimately, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of being ready for the series. For a series like this, is it essential? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure to be better than Australia at it.”

Joe Root's Record in Day-Night Tests Takes a Dip

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats see a drop in day-night games. The England star has played each of the seven of England’s pink-ball matches to date, and although a hundred in his debut such match versus the Windies in 2017, his overall average above 50 falls to 38.5 under lights.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate around 50 in general, but those numbers shift to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly with the pink ball. In his last pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he took six for nine as West Indies were bowled out for 27—his best performance that he bettered with seven for 58 in Perth.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup of Root and Starc is emerging as one of the key contests in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood usually caused him issues, in their absence last week, it was Starc who dismissed him for a duck and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the kind that may not reach the slips back home. The second, bowled chopping on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I believe I will return to form.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble-seam as his main tactic nowadays—he admitted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing could come into play. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and contributions by their premier batter could aid them recover from their own mistakes.

This may not require a century if another quick-fire match occurs, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” he modestly answered on being questioned whether that record bothered him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Chance for History

Root and his teammates practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are crucial for their readiness, conducted in evening conditions.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee has created an opening in the team, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be in contention. His off-breaks are adequate, and additional scoring at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

However, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and remains an option should England choose pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, then, at a ground where the visitors have not won a match in over 40 years.

“It's an opportunity to make history,” Root said on this fact. “It would make it even more satisfying if we win here.”