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It's not often for an England player gets labeled as complaining down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he gave an honest response.

“My personal view is no,” Root replied before England's net session at the Gabba. “Clearly highly popular and popular in this country, and Australia have an impressive record in these matches. You can understand why we’re playing.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of being ready for such contests. For a series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it matches the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and must ensure we outperform than Australia in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Declines

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop in day-night games. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in all seven of England’s floodlit Tests so far, and despite a hundred in his first such match against West Indies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 and a strike rate of 49.9 overall, yet these figures shift to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively with the pink ball. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were dismissed for a meager 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed 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 the Ashes. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, in their absence in the first Test, it was Starc who got him out for zero and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket was just a good ball—the type that might not carry the slips in England. The second, when he chopped on, during England’s second-day collapse, was an error on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he noted he should have listened to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing could be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome this week, and runs from their top batsman would help them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a century if another quick-fire match unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” he modestly answered on being questioned whether that record bothered him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates trained intensely over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. The key sessions are vital for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, and Will 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 could balance any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and remains an option if England opt for an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was in the squad last week. Much to think about, then, at a ground where the visitors haven’t won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root said regarding this. “It would be even more satisfying if we win at this ground.”