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It's not often that an English cricketer gets labeled as whinging in Australia, yet when Joe Root faced questions about the necessity of day-night Tests during the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root responded before England's net session at the Gabba. “It’s obviously highly popular and well-received here in Australia, and Australia have an impressive record in these matches. It's understandable why we’re playing.

“Ultimately, we are aware from two years out that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of being ready for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, is it essential? I don’t think so … but that doesn’t mean it has no place. I'm fine with it. I don’t think it matches the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure to be better than Australia in these conditions.”

Joe Root's Record Under Lights Suffers

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats take a hit in day-night games. The Yorkshire batsman has played all seven of England’s pink-ball matches so far, and although a hundred in his first such match against West Indies in 2017, his overall average above 50 falls to 38.5 under lights.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 with a strike-rate of 49.9 in general, yet these figures shift to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he claimed six for nine as West Indies were bowled out for a meager 27—career-best figures that he bettered with seven for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup of Root and Starc is emerging as one of the deciding factors in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually troubled him more, in their absence last week, the veteran Starc who got him out for scores of a duck and eight.

Root later reasoned that the first dismissal was just a good ball—the type that might not carry to slip back home. His next dismissal, bowled chopping on, amid second-day collapse, was a miscalculation on his part. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I believe I will score runs again.”

England's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his main tactic nowadays—he noted he should have listened his teammates' suggestions earlier—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 in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a century if another rapid shootout occurs, yet Root's absence of a century in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” was his humble reply when asked whether that record weighed on him in Perth.

Team Selection and Chance for History

Root and his teammates practiced hard over the weekend, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are vital for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the lineup, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be in contention. His off-breaks are decent, and extra runs at number eight might offset any bowling leaks.

However, Josh Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and is still in the mix if England opt for an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was included last week. Plenty to consider, then, at a ground where the visitors haven’t won a Test for decades.

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