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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 of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he gave a straightforward answer.

“My personal view is no,” Root responded before England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly highly popular and well-received in this country, and the hosts boast a strong track record with the pink ball. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“In the end, we are aware from two years out it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I don’t mind it. I don’t think it matches the conventional format. But it's on the calendar. We have to participate, and we just need to be better our opponents at it.”

Root's Performance Under Lights Takes a Dip

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats see a drop in day-night games. The England star has played all seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and despite a century in his debut outing versus the Windies back in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to 38.5 in these games.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate around 50 overall, but those numbers improve to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were bowled out for a meager 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed by taking seven for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is emerging as one of the deciding factors 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 scores of a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket was just a good ball—the kind that might not carry to slip back home. The second, when he chopped on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error on his part. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I believe I will score runs again.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he noted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing could come into play. England, trailing 1-0, face additional obstacles in this Test, and runs from their premier batter could aid them recover from their own mistakes.

This may not require a century if another rapid shootout occurs, but Root’s lack of a ton in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn't get time to think about it,” he modestly answered on being questioned whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

The England squad practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are crucial for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee has created an opening in the lineup, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be the frontrunner. His off-spin are decent, and additional scoring at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

That said, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and is still in the mix should England choose pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was in the squad last week. Plenty to consider, indeed, at a ground where the visitors 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 here.”