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Rarely that an English cricketer gets labeled as whinging in Australia, but when the former captain was questioned regarding the need for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he gave an honest answer.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root replied before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular in this country, and the hosts boast a strong track record with the pink ball. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know from two years out that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of preparing for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I'm fine with it. In my opinion it matches traditional Test cricket. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure we outperform than Australia at it.”

Joe Root's Record in Day-Night Tests Declines

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has played each of the seven England's pink-ball matches 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 in these games.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate of 49.9 overall, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 respectively in day-night Tests. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he claimed six for nine as the opposition were bowled out for a meager 27—career-best figures that he bettered by taking seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup between Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential deciding factors in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, with them missing in the first Test, the veteran Starc who got him out for zero and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that may not reach to slip back home. The second, bowled chopping on, during England’s the team's slump, was a miscalculation by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his preferred weapon these days—he noted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also come into play. England, trailing 1-0, face additional obstacles this week, and contributions by their top batsman would help them recover from their own mistakes.

It might not need a hundred should there be rapid shootout occurs, yet Root's absence of a ton on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” he modestly answered when asked whether that record weighed on him in Perth.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

The England squad practiced hard over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and extra runs at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

That said, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and remains an option should England choose pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included last week. Plenty to consider, indeed, at a ground where the visitors have not won a match for decades.

“It's an opportunity to make history,” Root commented on this fact. “It would be all the sweeter if we succeed here.”