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Rarely for an England player is accused of complaining down under, yet when the former captain faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he offered an honest answer.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular here in Australia, and the hosts boast a strong record with the pink ball. You can understand why we’re playing.

“In the end, we are aware from two years out that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of being ready for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? I don’t think so … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. 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 must ensure we outperform than Australia at it.”

Joe Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Declines

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats see a drop with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has played each of the seven of England’s floodlit Tests so far, and although a century in his debut such match versus the Windies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 drops to just over 38 under lights.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate around 50 overall, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 respectively with the pink ball. In his last pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for a meager 27—his best performance that he bettered 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 shaping up to be one of the key contests in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, in their absence in the first Test, the veteran Starc who got him out for scores of a duck and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the type that might not carry the slips back home. The second, when he chopped on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

The Touring Side's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he admitted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in muggy conditions, swing could be available. England, trailing 1-0, face additional obstacles in this Test, and runs from their top batsman would help them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

It might not need a hundred should there be rapid shootout occurs, yet Root's absence of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to think about it,” was his humble reply on being questioned if the stat weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection and Chance for History

Root and his teammates practiced hard on Sunday, with hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for their readiness, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, with Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are decent, and additional scoring down the order might offset any bowling leaks.

However, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and remains an option if England opt for an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was included last week. Plenty to consider, then, at a ground where England have not won a match in over 40 years.

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