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Rarely that an English cricketer is accused of whinging down under, yet when the former captain faced questions about the necessity for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he offered an honest response.

“My personal view is no,” Root stated before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular in this country, and the hosts boast a strong track record with the pink ball. You can understand why we’re playing.

“Ultimately, we are aware from two years out it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. For a series like this, does it need it? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it’s as good as the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and we just need to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

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

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has played each of the seven England's pink-ball matches to date, and despite a century in his first such match against West Indies back in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 drops to just over 38 in these games.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 and a strike rate of 49.9 overall, yet these figures shift to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively in day-night Tests. In his last floodlit game, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were dismissed for 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed with seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup between Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, in their absence last week, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for zero and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the type that may not reach the slips back home. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, amid the team's slump, was a miscalculation by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he stated. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

England's Hurdles and Preparations

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he noted he should have listened his teammates' advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing could be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome this week, and contributions by their top batsman could aid them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

It might not need a hundred if another quick-fire match occurs, yet Root's absence of a century on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn't get time to think about it,” he modestly answered when asked if the stat bothered him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

The England squad practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. The key sessions are vital for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the lineup, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be the frontrunner. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are adequate, and additional scoring down the order might offset any conceded runs.

That said, seamer Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and is still in the mix should England choose an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was in the squad previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a venue where the visitors haven’t won a match for decades.

“It's an opportunity to create history,” Root commented regarding this. “It would make it even more satisfying if we win at this ground.”