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Rarely for an England player gets labeled as complaining down under, yet when the former captain faced questions about the necessity for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he gave an honest response.

“My personal view is no,” Root responded before England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly highly popular and popular in this country, and the hosts have an impressive track record with the pink ball. You can understand why we’re playing.

“In the end, you know from two years out it will happen. It's a requirement of being ready for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? I don’t think so … 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 in these conditions.”

Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Takes a Dip

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop in day-night games. The Yorkshire batsman has played each of the seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and despite a hundred in his debut outing versus the Windies back in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 in these games.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate of 49.9 in general, yet these figures improve to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly with the pink ball. In his last floodlit game, against West Indies, he took six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were dismissed for 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed with seven for 58 in Perth.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup between Root and Starc is shaping up to be one of the key contests in the Ashes. Although Cummins and Hazlewood usually caused him issues, with them missing in the first Test, it was Starc who dismissed him for a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the kind that may not reach to slip in England. The second, bowled chopping on, amid 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 Hurdles and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, down one match, face additional obstacles this week, and runs from their premier batter could aid in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century should there be quick-fire match occurs, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” he modestly answered when asked whether that record bothered him in Perth.

Squad Decisions and Chance for History

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

Wood being unavailable due to a knee issue has created an opening in the lineup, with Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be the frontrunner. His off-spin are adequate, and extra runs down the order might offset any bowling leaks.

That said, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere and remains an option should England choose an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included previously. Plenty to consider, indeed, at a ground where the visitors have not won a Test for decades.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root said regarding this. “It would be even more satisfying if we win here.”