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Rarely that an English cricketer is accused of complaining in Australia, yet when the former captain was questioned regarding the need for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he gave a straightforward response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated before England's practice at the Gabba. “It’s obviously highly popular and popular here in Australia, and the hosts boast a strong track record in these matches. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, we are aware from two years out it will happen. It's a requirement of being ready for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be included. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it matches the conventional format. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform our opponents in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Record Under Lights Declines

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers take a hit with the pink ball. The England star has played all seven England's pink-ball matches so far, and despite a hundred in his debut outing against West Indies back in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 under lights.

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 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 with seven for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is emerging as a potential deciding factors in this series. 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 that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the kind that may not reach to slip in England. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, during England’s second-day collapse, was a miscalculation on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic nowadays—he admitted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and contributions by their top batsman could aid them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a century should there be rapid shootout occurs, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to think about it,” he modestly answered when asked if the stat bothered him in Perth.

Team Selection and Chance for History

The England squad practiced hard on Sunday, 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 lineup, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen hints he could be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are decent, and extra runs at number eight might offset any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere and is still in the mix should England choose pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was included previously. Much to think about, then, at a ground where the visitors haven’t won a Test in over 40 years.

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