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Rarely for an England player is accused of complaining in Australia, yet when the former captain faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered a straightforward answer.

“My personal view is no,” Root replied prior to England's net session in Brisbane. “Clearly highly popular and popular in this country, and Australia have an impressive track record in these matches. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know from two years out that it’s scheduled. It’s part of preparing for such contests. For a series like this, is it essential? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it matches the conventional format. But it's on the calendar. We have to participate, and we just need we outperform than Australia at it.”

Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Takes a Dip

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats take a hit with the pink ball. The England star has featured in all seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and despite a century in his first outing versus the Windies in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 under lights.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate around 50 in general, but those numbers 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 he bettered with seven for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

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 dismissed him for zero and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the type that might not carry the slips back home. The second, bowled chopping on, during England’s the team's slump, was a miscalculation on his part. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I believe I will return to form.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Preparations

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he noted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing may also be available. England, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome in this Test, and contributions by their premier batter would help in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a century if another quick-fire match occurs, yet Root's absence of a century on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” was his humble reply when asked whether that record bothered him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

The England squad practiced hard over the weekend, with hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are crucial for their readiness, held under lights.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee opens up a spot in the lineup, with Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-spin are adequate, and extra runs at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and is still in the mix should England choose an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, then, at a venue where England have not won a Test in over 40 years.

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