🔗 Share this article

It's not often that an English cricketer gets labeled as whinging down under, yet when the former captain faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he gave a straightforward response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “It’s obviously very successful and well-received here in Australia, and the hosts boast a strong track record in these matches. You can understand why we’re playing.

“Ultimately, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. For a series like this, is it essential? Probably not … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I'm fine with it. In my opinion it matches the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform than Australia in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Declines

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has played all seven of England’s floodlit Tests so far, and although a century in his debut such match against West Indies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to 38.5 in these games.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 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 took six for nine as West Indies were dismissed for 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed by taking seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is emerging as one of the deciding factors in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, in their absence in the first Test, it was Starc who dismissed him for scores of zero and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the type that might not carry to slip back home. The second, when he chopped on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error on his part. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I believe I will return to form.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he admitted he should have listened his teammates' advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also come into play. England, down one match, have more to overcome this week, and contributions by their premier batter could aid them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a century should there be quick-fire match unfolds, but Root’s lack of a century on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” was his humble reply on being questioned whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates trained intensely over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. The key sessions are vital for their readiness, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, with Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be the frontrunner. His off-breaks are adequate, and additional scoring at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

However, Josh Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and remains an option should England choose an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was in the squad previously. Plenty to consider, indeed, at a ground where England haven’t won a Test in over 40 years.

“It's an opportunity to create history,” Root said on this fact. “It would be all the sweeter if we win here.”