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It's not often that an English cricketer gets labeled as complaining down under, yet when the former captain faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he gave an honest answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root responded prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly very successful and popular in this country, and the hosts have an impressive record in these matches. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“In the end, we are aware well in advance that it’s scheduled. It’s part of preparing for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? Probably not … but that doesn’t mean 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 must ensure we outperform our opponents at it.”

Joe Root's Performance Under Lights Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop in day-night games. The England star has featured in all seven of England’s floodlit Tests so far, and despite a century in his debut outing against West Indies in 2017, his career average above 50 drops to 38.5 in these games.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 and a strike rate of 49.9 overall, but those numbers improve to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he claimed six for nine as the opposition were bowled out for a meager 27—his best performance that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc Could Shape Series

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

Root has reflected the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the type that may not reach the slips back home. The second, when he chopped on, during England’s the team's slump, was a miscalculation on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I believe I will return to form.”

England's Challenges and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic nowadays—he admitted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in muggy conditions, swing may also come into play. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and contributions by their premier batter could aid in recovering from their own mistakes.

This may not require a century if another quick-fire match occurs, but Root’s lack of a century in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” he modestly answered when asked if the stat weighed on him during the first Test.

Team Selection and Chance for History

Root and his teammates trained intensely on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable due to a knee issue opens up a spot in the team, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen hints he could be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are decent, and extra runs down the order could balance any conceded runs.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and is still in the mix if England opt for an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was in the squad last week. Plenty to consider, then, at a venue where the visitors have not won a Test for decades.

“It is a chance to make history,” Root said regarding this. “It would be all the sweeter if we win here.”