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It's not often for an England player is accused of whinging down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated before England's net session at the Gabba. “Clearly very successful and well-received in this country, and Australia have an impressive track 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 part of being ready for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? 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 on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform than Australia at it.”

Root's Performance Under Lights Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers take a hit with the pink ball. The England star has featured in each of the seven of England’s floodlit Tests to date, and despite a hundred in his first outing versus the Windies in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 falls to 38.5 under lights.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate of 49.9 overall, but those numbers improve to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly with the pink ball. During his most recent floodlit game, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for 27—his best performance that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in Perth.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is emerging as one of the deciding factors in the Ashes. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, with them missing in the first Test, it was Starc who got him out for a duck and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the kind that might not carry the slips in England. His next dismissal, bowled chopping on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he noted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing could be available. England, down one match, face additional obstacles this week, and contributions by their premier batter would help them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred if another rapid shootout occurs, but Root’s lack of a century on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn't get time to think about it,” was his humble reply when asked if the stat weighed on him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates trained intensely over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for their readiness, conducted in evening conditions.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be in contention. His off-spin are decent, and extra runs down the order might offset any conceded runs.

That said, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and remains an option should England choose pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was in the squad last week. Much to think about, then, at a ground where England haven’t won a match in over 40 years.

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