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It's not often for an England player gets labeled as complaining in Australia, but when Joe Root was questioned regarding the need of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he gave a straightforward answer.

“My personal view is no,” Root responded before England's net session at the Gabba. “Clearly highly popular and popular here in Australia, and Australia have an impressive track record in these matches. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. For a series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be included. I'm fine with it. In my opinion it matches the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and we just need to be better our opponents at it.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Declines

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 all seven of England’s pink-ball matches to date, and although a century in his first such match against West Indies back in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate around 50 in general, yet these figures shift to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively with the pink ball. During his most recent floodlit game, against West Indies, he took six for nine as the opposition were dismissed for a meager 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed by taking seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is emerging as one of the key contests in the Ashes. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, in their absence in the first Test, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the type that might not carry to slip back home. His next dismissal, bowled chopping on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I believe I will return to form.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic nowadays—he admitted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing could be available. England, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome this week, and contributions by their top batsman could aid in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a century should there be quick-fire match unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” he modestly answered on being questioned if the stat weighed on him in Perth.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

The England squad trained intensely over the weekend, with hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. The key sessions are vital for their readiness, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee has created an opening in the lineup, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and additional scoring down the order might offset any bowling leaks.

That said, 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 previously. Much to think about, then, at a venue where the visitors have not won a Test for decades.

“It is a chance to make history,” Root commented on this fact. “It would make it all the sweeter if we succeed here.”