🔗 Share this article

It's not often for an England player is accused of whinging down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he gave a straightforward answer.

“My personal view is no,” Root replied before England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly very successful and popular here in Australia, and the hosts boast a strong record with the pink ball. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, you know from two years out it will happen. It’s part of preparing for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform than Australia at it.”

Root's Record Under Lights Takes a Dip

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong numbers take a hit in day-night games. The England star has played all seven of England’s floodlit Tests to date, and although a hundred in his first outing versus the Windies in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 in these games.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate of 49.9 overall, but those numbers improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he claimed six for nine as the opposition were bowled out for 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed 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 one of the deciding factors in the Ashes. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, in their absence in the first Test, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for zero and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket was just a good ball—the kind that might not carry to slip in England. The second, bowled chopping on, during England’s second-day collapse, was a miscalculation by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I believe I will score runs again.”

England's Hurdles and Preparations

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he admitted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing may also be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and runs from their top batsman would help in recovering from their own mistakes.

This may not require a century should there be rapid shootout occurs, but Root’s lack of a ton in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” was his humble reply when asked if the stat bothered him in Perth.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates practiced hard over the weekend, 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 due to a knee issue has created an opening in the lineup, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters hints he could be in contention. His off-spin are decent, and extra runs at number eight might offset any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and remains an option should England choose pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was in the squad last week. Much to think about, then, at a venue where England have not won a match for decades.

“It's an opportunity to create history,” Root commented regarding this. “It would make it all the sweeter if we succeed here.”