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Rarely that an English cricketer gets labeled as complaining in Australia, but when the former captain 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 practice in Brisbane. “It’s obviously highly popular and well-received here in Australia, and Australia have an impressive record with the pink ball. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know from two years out it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for such contests. For a series like this, is it essential? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply 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 we outperform our opponents in these conditions.”

Root's Performance Under Lights Declines

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers take a hit with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has played each of the seven England's pink-ball matches so far, and although a century in his debut outing against West Indies back in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 under lights.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate around 50 overall, but those numbers improve to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively with the pink ball. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he took six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for a meager 27—career-best figures that he bettered with seven for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential deciding factors in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually troubled him more, in their absence in the first Test, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the type that may not reach to slip back home. The second, bowled chopping on, during England’s second-day collapse, was an error by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he noted he should have listened his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also come into play. England, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome this week, and runs from their top batsman could aid them recover from their own mistakes.

It might not need a hundred should there be quick-fire match unfolds, yet Root's absence of a century on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” was his humble reply on being questioned if the stat bothered him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Chance for History

Root and his teammates trained intensely on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. The key sessions are vital for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Mark Wood’s absence due to a knee issue has created an opening in the lineup, with Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-spin are adequate, and extra runs down the order could balance any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and remains an option should England choose an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included previously. Plenty to consider, indeed, at a venue where the visitors haven’t won a Test for decades.

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