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It's not often that an English cricketer is accused of complaining down under, yet when the former captain faced questions regarding the need of day-night Tests in a series like the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded prior to England's practice in Brisbane. “Clearly highly popular and popular in this country, and the hosts have an impressive record in these matches. You can understand why we’re playing.

“Ultimately, we are aware well in advance that it’s scheduled. It's a requirement of being ready for the series. For a series like this, does it need it? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it’s as good as the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and we just need to be better our opponents at it.”

Joe Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Australia's Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers see a drop with the pink ball. The England star has featured in all seven England's pink-ball matches to date, and although a century in his first outing against West Indies back in 2017, his career average of 50.9 falls to just over 38 under lights.

Conversely, bowler Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate around 50 overall, yet these figures improve to 17 and 33 respectively in day-night Tests. In his last pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he took six for nine as the opposition were dismissed for 27—his best performance that he bettered with seven for 58 in the next Test.

Deciding Duel Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The head-to-head between Root and Starc is emerging as one of the deciding factors in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have traditionally troubled him more, with them missing in the first Test, the veteran Starc who dismissed him for zero and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket was just a good ball—the kind that might not carry the slips in England. The second, bowled chopping on, during England’s second-day collapse, was an error on his part. “I know I’m a good player,” he stated. “I believe I will score runs again.”

England's Hurdles and Preparations

Starc has adopted the wobble-seam as his preferred weapon these days—he noted he should have listened his teammates' suggestions earlier—and in muggy conditions, swing could come into play. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and runs from their premier batter could aid in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

It might not need a century should there be rapid shootout unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil continues to haunt him. “I didn't get time to dwell on it,” was his humble reply when asked if the stat bothered 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 in the heat. Monday and Wednesday are vital for England’s preparations, conducted in evening conditions.

Mark Wood’s absence due to a knee issue has created an opening in the team, with Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be the frontrunner. His off-spin are decent, and additional scoring at number eight might offset any bowling leaks.

That said, Josh Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and is still in the mix should England choose pace-heavy bowling, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included last week. Much to think about, then, at a ground where the visitors have not won a Test for decades.

“It is a chance to create history,” Root said regarding this. “It would make it even more satisfying if we win at this ground.”