🔗 Share this article

Rarely for an England player gets labeled as complaining down under, but when Joe Root faced questions regarding the need for pink-ball cricket during the Ashes, he gave an honest answer.

“My personal view is no,” Root replied prior to England's practice at the Gabba. “It’s obviously highly popular and popular here in Australia, and the hosts have an impressive record in these matches. It's understandable why one match is scheduled.

“Ultimately, you know well in advance it will happen. 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 shouldn’t be included. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it matches traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We have to participate, and must ensure to be better our opponents at it.”

Joe Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Like his counterpart, Australia's Steve Smith, Root’s typically strong stats take a hit in day-night games. The England star has featured in each of the seven England's floodlit Tests so far, and although a century in his debut such match versus the Windies back in 2017, his career average above 50 drops to just over 38 in these games.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate of 49.9 in general, yet these figures improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly in day-night Tests. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he took six wickets for nine runs as the opposition were dismissed for a meager 27—his best performance that were soon surpassed with seven wickets for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Root vs Starc Could Shape Series

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is shaping up to be one of the key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, with them missing last week, it was Starc who dismissed him for zero and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket came from a fine delivery—the kind that might not carry the slips in England. The second, bowled chopping on, amid the team's slump, was a miscalculation by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he stated. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

The Touring Side's Challenges and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he noted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins advice sooner—and in humid Brisbane, swing could be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome this week, and contributions by their top batsman could aid them recover from a self-inflicted hole.

This may not require a century if another quick-fire match occurs, yet Root's absence of a century 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 during the first Test.

Team Selection and Chance for History

The England squad trained intensely over the weekend, with hip-hop setting the tone in the heat. The key sessions are vital for their readiness, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable due to a knee issue has created an opening in the team, and Will Jacks practicing among the batsmen hints he could be the frontrunner. His off-spin are adequate, and additional scoring down the order might offset any conceded runs.

However, seamer Tongue was with the reserves in Canberra and remains an option if England opt for pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, indeed, at a venue where the visitors haven’t won a match in over 40 years.

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