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Rarely for an England player is accused of whinging down under, but when the former captain was questioned regarding the need of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“My personal view is no,” Root stated prior to England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular in this country, and the hosts have an impressive record in these matches. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of being ready for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be included. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers take a hit with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in each of the seven of England’s floodlit Tests to date, and although a hundred in his first such match versus the Windies back in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to 38.5 in these games.

On the other hand, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate of 49.9 overall, but those numbers shift to 17 and 33 correspondingly with the pink ball. During his most recent floodlit game, in Jamaica, he took six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were dismissed for a meager 27—career-best figures that were soon surpassed by taking seven wickets for 58 in Perth.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup of Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually troubled him more, in their absence in the first Test, it was Starc who dismissed him for scores of a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that might not carry the slips in England. The second, when he chopped on, during England’s the team's slump, was an error on his part. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I believe I will score runs again.”

The Touring Side's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he noted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in muggy conditions, swing may also be available. England, down one match, face additional obstacles this week, and runs from their premier batter could aid them recover from their own mistakes.

This may not require a century if another rapid shootout occurs, yet Root's absence of a century in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” he modestly answered when asked if the stat bothered him in Perth.

Team Selection and Chance for History

Root and his teammates practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. 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 team, with Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and extra runs at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and is still in the mix should England choose pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was included previously. Much to think about, then, at a ground where the visitors haven’t won a match in over 40 years.

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