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It's not often that an English cricketer gets labeled as whinging down under, but when the former captain faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he gave an honest answer.

“My personal view is no,” Root responded prior to England's net session in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular here in Australia, and Australia boast a strong record in these matches. 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 being ready for the series. For a series like this, is it essential? I don’t think so … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it matches the conventional format. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and we just need we outperform than Australia in these conditions.”

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

Similar to his opposite number, 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 although a century in his first outing versus the Windies in 2017, his overall average above 50 drops to 38.5 under lights.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate around 50 overall, yet these figures improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, against West Indies, he took six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were bowled out for 27—career-best figures that he bettered by taking seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head of Root and Starc is emerging as a potential deciding factors in this series. Although Cummins and Hazlewood have traditionally caused him issues, with them missing in the first Test, it was Starc who got him out for scores of zero and eight.

Root later reasoned that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the type that might not carry to slip in England. His next dismissal, when he chopped on, amid the team's slump, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

England's Challenges and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted he wished he'd heeded his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in muggy conditions, swing may also come into play. England, down one match, face additional obstacles this week, and runs from their top batsman could aid in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a hundred should there be rapid shootout occurs, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn't get time to think about it,” he modestly answered on being questioned if the stat weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection and Historic Opportunity

The England squad trained intensely on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop in the heat. The key sessions are crucial for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen hints he could be in contention. His off-breaks are decent, and additional scoring down the order might offset any conceded runs.

That said, seamer Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and is still in the mix if England opt for an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included previously. Plenty to consider, then, at a ground where the visitors have not won a Test for decades.

“It's an opportunity to make history,” Root said regarding this. “It would make it even more satisfying if we win at this ground.”