🔗 Share this article

Rarely that an English cricketer is accused of complaining in Australia, but when the former captain faced questions about the necessity for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he offered an honest answer.

“I personally don’t think so,” Root responded before England's net session at the Gabba. “It’s obviously highly popular and popular in this country, and the hosts boast a strong track record with the pink ball. You can understand why one match is scheduled.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It’s part of preparing for the series. For a series like this, is it essential? Probably not … yet it doesn't imply it shouldn’t be included. I don’t mind it. In my opinion it matches the conventional format. But it’s in the schedule. We have to participate, and we just need to be better than Australia at it.”

Root's Performance in Day-Night Tests Suffers

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar stats take a hit with the pink ball. The England star has played all seven of England’s pink-ball matches so far, and despite a century in his debut such match against West Indies in 2017, his overall average of 50.9 drops to 38.5 in these games.

On the other hand, bowler Mitchell Starc averages 28.97 with a strike-rate of 49.9 overall, yet these figures improve to 17 and 33 correspondingly with the pink ball. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he claimed six wickets for nine runs as West Indies were dismissed for a meager 27—career-best figures that he bettered by taking seven for 58 in the next Test.

Key Battle Between Root and Starc May Determine Outcome

The matchup of Root and Starc is emerging as a potential key contests in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually troubled him more, in their absence in the first Test, it was Starc who dismissed him for scores of zero and eight.

Root has reflected the initial wicket was just a good ball—the type that may not reach to slip back home. The second, bowled chopping on, amid second-day collapse, was an error by him. “I am confident in my ability,” he stated. “I believe I will score runs again.”

England's Hurdles and Preparations

Starc now uses the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he admitted 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 this week, and runs from their top batsman would help in recovering from a self-inflicted hole.

It might not need a century should there be quick-fire match unfolds, yet Root's absence of a century in Australia continues to haunt him. “I didn’t have long enough to think about it,” was his humble reply on being questioned if the stat weighed on him in Perth.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

The England squad practiced hard on Sunday, to the sound of hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. The key sessions are vital for their readiness, held under lights.

Wood being unavailable with a sore knee opens up a spot in the team, and Will Jacks netting with the main batters suggests he might be in contention. The all-rounder’s off-breaks are adequate, and additional scoring at number eight might offset any bowling leaks.

That said, seamer Tongue was with the reserves elsewhere and remains an option should England choose an all-pace attack, and spinner Bashir was included last week. Plenty to consider, indeed, at a venue where England have not won a match in over 40 years.

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