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It's not often that an English cricketer gets labeled as whinging in Australia, but when Joe Root was questioned about the necessity of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he offered an honest response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly very successful and well-received in this country, and the hosts boast a strong track record in these matches. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, we are aware well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be included. I don’t mind it. I don’t think it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We have to participate, and we just need we outperform than Australia at it.”

Root's Record Under Lights Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats take a hit with the pink ball. The England star has played each of the seven of England’s floodlit Tests so far, and despite a hundred in his debut such match against West Indies back in 2017, his overall average above 50 drops to just over 38 under lights.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate around 50 in general, but those numbers shift to 17 and 33 correspondingly with the pink ball. In his last floodlit game, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were bowled out for a meager 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed with seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup of Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in the Ashes. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, in their absence last week, the veteran Starc who got him out for a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the type that might not carry to slip in England. The second, bowled chopping on, amid the team's slump, was a miscalculation by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he noted he wished he'd heeded 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 runs from their top batsman would help them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred should there be quick-fire match occurs, yet Root's absence of a ton in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” was his humble reply on being questioned whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

The England squad trained intensely over the weekend, with hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee opens up a spot in the lineup, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be the frontrunner. His off-spin are adequate, and extra runs at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

That said, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and remains an option if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a ground where the visitors haven’t won a match for decades.

“It's an opportunity to create history,” Root commented regarding this. “It would be all the sweeter if we win at this ground.”