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Rarely for an England player gets labeled as whinging down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered a straightforward answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root replied prior to England's net session at the Gabba. “It’s obviously highly popular and well-received here in Australia, and the hosts have an impressive track record in these matches. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, we are aware from two years out that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. For a series like this, does it need it? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it matches traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We have to participate, and we just need to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

Root's Record Under Lights Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has featured in all seven of England’s pink-ball matches so far, and despite a hundred in his first outing against West Indies in 2017, his career average above 50 drops to just over 38 under lights.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 and a strike rate around 50 overall, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 respectively in day-night Tests. During his most recent floodlit game, in Jamaica, he claimed six for nine as the opposition were bowled out for a meager 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed by taking seven for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is shaping up to be one of the key contests in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, with them missing in the first Test, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for zero and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that may not reach the slips back home. The second, when he chopped on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

The Touring Side's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his preferred weapon these days—he admitted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing could come into play. England, down one match, face additional obstacles this week, and contributions by their premier batter would help in recovering from their own mistakes.

This may not require a century if another rapid shootout occurs, yet Root's absence of a century on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” he modestly answered on being questioned if the stat weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

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

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, with Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and additional scoring at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and is still in the mix if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, indeed, at a ground where the visitors haven’t won a match for decades.

“It's an opportunity to create history,” Root said regarding this. “It would make it all the sweeter if we win here.”