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It's not often for an England player gets labeled as whinging in Australia, yet when Joe Root faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he gave a straightforward answer.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “It’s obviously highly popular and popular in this country, and Australia have an impressive record in these matches. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, we are aware well in advance that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. For a series like this, does it need it? Probably not … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it matches the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and must ensure to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers take a hit in day-night games. The England star has featured in each of the seven of England’s floodlit Tests to date, and despite a hundred in his debut such match versus the Windies back in 2017, his career average above 50 falls to 38.5 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 and a strike rate around 50 overall, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly with the pink ball. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he took six for nine as West Indies were bowled out for 27—his best performance that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in Perth.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

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 troubled him more, in their absence last week, it was Starc who dismissed him for zero and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the kind that may not reach to slip in England. The second, when he chopped on, amid the team's slump, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I believe I will score runs again.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Preparations

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he admitted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, down one match, face additional obstacles in this Test, and runs from their top batsman could aid them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred should there be rapid shootout 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 when asked whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

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

Wood being unavailable due to a knee issue opens up a spot in the lineup, with Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be the frontrunner. His off-breaks are decent, and additional scoring down the order might offset any bowling leaks.

However, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and is still in the mix if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, then, at a venue where England haven’t won a Test in over 40 years.

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