🔗 Share this article

Rarely that an English cricketer gets labeled as whinging down under, yet when Joe Root faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he gave a straightforward answer.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root responded prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “Clearly very successful and well-received here in Australia, and the hosts have an impressive track record with the pink ball. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, we are aware from two years out that it’s scheduled. 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. I don’t think it matches the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and we just need to be better our opponents in these conditions.”

Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats take a hit with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in all seven of England’s floodlit Tests so far, and although a hundred in his debut 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 improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly with the pink ball. In his last floodlit game, in Jamaica, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were dismissed for a meager 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed with seven for 58 in Perth.

Key Battle Root vs Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup of Root and Starc is shaping up to be one of the key contests in the Ashes. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, in their absence last week, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for scores of a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket was just a good ball—the kind that may not reach to slip back home. The second, bowled chopping on, during England’s the team's slump, was a miscalculation by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

The Touring Side's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon nowadays—he admitted he should have listened his teammates' advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing may also be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome this week, and runs from their top batsman could aid them recover from their own mistakes.

This may not require a century should there be rapid shootout unfolds, yet Root's absence of a ton in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” was his humble reply when asked whether that record bothered him during the first Test.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates trained intensely over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee has created an opening in the team, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be in contention. His off-spin are adequate, and additional scoring down the order could balance any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and is still in the mix if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, and spinner Bashir was included previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a venue where England haven’t won a match for decades.

“It is a chance to make history,” Root commented regarding this. “It would be even more satisfying if we win here.”