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Rarely that an English cricketer 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 an honest answer.

“My personal view is no,” Root responded before England's practice in Brisbane. “It’s obviously very successful and popular here in Australia, and the hosts boast a strong record in these matches. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

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

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

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats take a hit with the pink ball. The England star has played all seven of England’s floodlit Tests so far, and although a hundred in his debut such match versus the Windies in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to 38.5 in these games.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate around 50 in general, yet these figures shift to 17 and 33 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he took six for nine as the opposition 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 head-to-head of Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually caused him issues, with them missing last week, it was Starc who dismissed him for a duck and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that might not carry to slip back home. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, during England’s second-day collapse, was a miscalculation on his part. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I believe I will return to form.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he noted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in muggy conditions, swing could be available. England, trailing 1-0, face additional obstacles in this Test, and contributions by their top batsman would help in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a century if another quick-fire match occurs, yet Root's absence of a ton in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” was his humble reply on being questioned if the stat weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection and Chance for History

Root and his teammates practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are crucial for their readiness, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee has created an opening in the team, with Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-spin are decent, and extra runs down the order could balance any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and remains an option should England choose an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was in the squad previously. Much to think about, indeed, at a ground where the visitors haven’t won a Test in over 40 years.

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