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It's not often for an England player gets labeled as complaining in Australia, yet when Joe Root was questioned regarding the need for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he gave an honest response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root stated before England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly highly popular and popular here in Australia, and Australia have an impressive record with the pink ball. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know from two years out that it’s scheduled. It’s part of preparing for such contests. For a series like this, is it essential? Probably not … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I don’t mind it. I don’t think it matches traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need to be better than Australia in these conditions.”

Root's Performance Under Lights Declines

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong numbers take a hit with the pink ball. The Yorkshire batsman has featured in each of the seven of England’s pink-ball matches to date, and although a hundred in his debut such match versus the Windies back in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 drops to just over 38 in these games.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate of 49.9 in general, yet these figures shift to 17 and 33 respectively in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for a meager 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed by taking seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup of Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential deciding factors in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood usually caused him issues, in their absence last week, it was Starc who got him out for scores of zero and eight.

Root has reflected that the first dismissal came from a fine delivery—the type that may not reach the slips in England. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, during England’s second-day collapse, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to score runs again.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he should have listened his teammates' advice sooner—and in muggy conditions, swing could come into play. England, trailing 1-0, have more to overcome in this Test, and contributions by their premier batter would help them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred if another rapid shootout unfolds, but Root’s lack of a century in Australia remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” he modestly answered when asked whether that record weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection 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 crucial for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Mark Wood’s absence due to a knee issue opens up a spot in the lineup, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen hints he could be in contention. His off-spin are decent, and extra runs down the order could balance any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue has been with the Lions elsewhere 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 have not won a Test in over 40 years.

“It is a chance to make history,” Root said on this fact. “It would make it even more satisfying if we succeed at this ground.”