🔗 Share this article

It's not often for an England player is accused of complaining in Australia, but when the former captain faced questions regarding the need for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he gave an honest response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated before England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly highly popular and popular in this country, and Australia have an impressive track record in these matches. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It's a requirement of preparing for the series. For a series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I don’t mind it. I don’t think it’s as good as the conventional format. But it's on the calendar. We have to participate, and we just need we outperform our opponents in these conditions.”

Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Declines

Like his counterpart, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats take a hit in day-night games. The Yorkshire batsman has played each of the seven of England’s floodlit Tests so far, and despite a hundred in his first such match versus the Windies back in 2017, his overall average above 50 drops to 38.5 in these games.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate around 50 in general, but those numbers shift to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively with the pink ball. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were dismissed for a meager 27—his best performance that he bettered with seven for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup of Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential deciding factors in the Ashes. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, in their absence in the first Test, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for a duck and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the kind that may not reach to slip in England. The second, bowled chopping on, amid the team's slump, was a miscalculation by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I believe I will score runs again.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing could be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome this week, and contributions by their premier batter could aid in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a hundred if another quick-fire match occurs, yet Root's absence of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” was his humble reply on being questioned whether that record weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for their readiness, held under lights.

Mark Wood’s absence due to a knee issue has created an opening in the team, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are adequate, and extra runs at number eight could balance any conceded runs.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and is still in the mix if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was in the squad last week. Plenty to consider, indeed, at a ground where England haven’t won a Test in over 40 years.

“It's an opportunity to make history,” Root said on this fact. “It would make it all the sweeter if we succeed at this ground.”