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It's not often that an English cricketer gets labeled as complaining in Australia, but when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he gave a straightforward answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root responded prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly highly popular and popular in this country, and the hosts have an impressive record in these matches. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“Ultimately, we are aware from two years out that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of preparing for such contests. For a series like this, is it essential? 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 the conventional format. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform than Australia at it.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Suffers

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong numbers take a hit with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has played each of the seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and although a century in his first such match against West Indies in 2017, his overall average above 50 falls to 38.5 in these games.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate of 49.9 in general, yet these figures improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last floodlit game, in Jamaica, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were dismissed for 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed by taking seven wickets for 58 in Perth.

Key Battle Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is shaping up to be one of the deciding factors in the Ashes. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, in their absence in the first Test, it was Starc who dismissed him for scores of zero and eight.

Root later reasoned that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the type that may not reach the slips back home. The second, when he chopped on, amid the team's slump, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he stated. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he admitted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing may also come into play. England, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome this week, and runs from their top batsman would help in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a hundred should there be quick-fire match unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” he modestly answered when asked whether that record bothered him in Perth.

Squad Decisions and Chance for History

Root and his teammates practiced hard over the weekend, with 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 decent, and additional scoring down the order might offset any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and remains an option should England choose pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was in the squad previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a ground where England haven’t won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to make history,” Root said regarding this. “It would make it all the sweeter if we win at this ground.”