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It's not often that an English cricketer is accused of whinging down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he gave an honest answer.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded prior to England's net session in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular here in Australia, and Australia have an impressive record in these matches. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“In the end, we are aware well in advance that it’s scheduled. It’s part of being ready for such contests. For a series like this, is it essential? Probably not … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I don’t mind it. I don’t think it’s as good as the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and must ensure to be better our opponents at it.”

Root's Performance Under Lights Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong numbers take a hit in day-night games. The England star has played all seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and despite a hundred in his debut outing versus the Windies back in 2017, his career average above 50 drops to just over 38 under lights.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate of 49.9 in general, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last floodlit game, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were dismissed for a meager 27—career-best figures that he bettered with seven for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Root vs Starc Could Shape Series

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually caused him issues, in their absence last week, it was Starc who got him out for zero and eight.

Root later reasoned that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the kind 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 am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

England's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he noted he should have listened his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing could come into play. England, down one match, have more to overcome this week, and contributions by their top batsman would help them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred should there be rapid shootout unfolds, yet Root's absence of a century on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” he modestly answered when asked if the stat weighed on him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for their readiness, held under lights.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee opens up a spot in the lineup, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen hints he could be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and extra runs at number eight might offset any bowling leaks.

However, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere and is still in the mix should England choose pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, indeed, at a venue where the visitors haven’t won a Test in over 40 years.

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