🔗 Share this article

Rarely for an England player is accused of whinging down under, but when the former captain was questioned about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he gave an honest response.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly highly popular and popular here in Australia, and Australia 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 it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for such contests. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? Probably not … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I'm fine with it. In my opinion it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and we just need to be better our opponents at it.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has played each of the seven England's floodlit Tests to date, and although a hundred in his first such match against West Indies back in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 under lights.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate of 49.9 overall, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 respectively in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he took six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for 27—career-best figures that he bettered with seven wickets for 58 in Perth.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup between Root and Starc is shaping up to be one of the deciding factors in the Ashes. Although Cummins and Hazlewood usually troubled him more, in their absence last week, it was Starc who dismissed him for a duck and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket was just a good ball—the type that may not reach to slip in England. The second, bowled chopping on, amid the team's slump, was an error by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted 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, down one match, face additional obstacles this week, and contributions by their top batsman could aid them recover from their own mistakes.

It might not need a hundred should there be rapid shootout occurs, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” he modestly answered when asked whether that record weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

The England squad trained intensely on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. The key sessions are vital for their readiness, conducted in evening conditions.

Mark Wood’s absence with a sore knee has created an opening in the lineup, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be the frontrunner. His off-breaks are decent, and additional scoring at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and is still in the mix if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was in the squad previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a venue where the visitors have not won a Test in over 40 years.

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