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It's not often for an England player gets labeled as complaining in Australia, yet when Joe Root faced questions about the necessity for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he gave a straightforward response.

“My personal view is no,” Root stated before England's net session in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular here in Australia, and the hosts have an impressive track record with the pink ball. You can understand why we’re playing.

“In the end, you know from two years out that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of preparing for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? I don’t think so … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. I don’t mind it. I don’t think it matches traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure to be better than Australia at it.”

Root's Record in Day-Night Tests Declines

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers 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 although a century in his first such match versus the Windies in 2017, his overall average above 50 falls to 38.5 in these games.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate of 49.9 overall, yet these figures improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed by taking seven 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 caused him issues, in their absence last week, it was Starc who got him out for a duck and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket was just a good ball—the kind that may not reach the slips back home. His next dismissal, bowled chopping on, during England’s second-day collapse, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he stated. “I believe I will return to form.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he noted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, down one match, face additional obstacles this week, and runs from their top batsman would help them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

It might not need a century should there be quick-fire match unfolds, but Root’s lack of a century in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” was his humble reply when asked whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Chance for History

The England squad practiced hard over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable 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-breaks are adequate, and additional scoring at number eight might offset any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere and is still in the mix if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was in the squad last week. Plenty to consider, then, at a ground where England have not 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 win here.”