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Rarely that an English cricketer is accused of complaining down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he offered an honest answer.

“My personal view is no,” Root responded prior to England's net session at the Gabba. “Clearly highly popular and well-received in this country, and Australia boast a strong track record with the pink ball. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be included. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure we outperform our opponents in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Record Under Lights Declines

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has featured in each of the seven of England’s pink-ball matches to date, and despite a hundred in his first such match against West Indies back in 2017, his career average above 50 drops to 38.5 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate of 49.9 overall, yet these figures improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last floodlit game, in Jamaica, he took six for nine as West Indies were dismissed for a meager 27—career-best figures that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Root vs Starc Could Shape Series

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential key contests in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, with them missing in the first Test, it was Starc who got him out for scores of zero and eight.

Root later reasoned that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the type that might not carry the slips back home. The second, bowled chopping on, amid the team's slump, was a miscalculation on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

England's Hurdles and Preparations

Starc now uses the wobble-seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, trailing 1-0, face additional obstacles in this Test, and runs from their premier batter could aid in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century should there be rapid shootout occurs, yet Root's absence of a century on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” was his humble reply on being questioned whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Chance for History

The England squad trained intensely on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are vital for their readiness, conducted in evening conditions.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee has created an opening in the lineup, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be the frontrunner. His off-spin are adequate, and additional scoring down the order could balance any bowling leaks.

However, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere and is still in the mix if England opt for an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was included previously. Plenty to consider, indeed, at a ground where England have not won a Test in over 40 years.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root said on this fact. “It would be even more satisfying if we win here.”