Here’s the truth that not everyone admits loudly: even top players sometimes doubt whether new formats actually improve the game. And when Joe Root was asked whether the Ashes really needs a day-night Test, he didn’t sugarcoat his response — even though he knew it might spark debate in Australia. But here’s where it gets interesting…
Root, speaking ahead of England’s training session at the Gabba before the second Test, admitted that he personally doesn’t believe the Ashes needs a pink-ball match. Still, he acknowledged its popularity in Australia and the Aussies’ staggering record — 13 wins from 14 day-night Tests — which makes it pretty clear why such a fixture appears in the schedule.
Root explained that teams know years in advance that the pink-ball Test will be included, so preparation is simply part of the job. While he still prefers traditional daytime Test cricket, he emphasized that once a match is on the itinerary, the only option is to embrace the challenge and try to outperform the opposition under the lights.
But here’s the part most fans overlook: Root’s own statistics show why he’s not exactly enthusiastic. Despite being one of the world’s most consistent Test batters, his pink-ball average — 38.5 — is significantly lower than his impressive career average of 50.9. Even with a century in his first day-night Test back in 2017, the pink ball has clearly tested him more than usual.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Mitchell Starc becomes an entirely different beast under lights. His overall bowling average of 28.97 drops dramatically to 17.08 in day-night conditions, and his strike rate improves as well. In fact, his last pink-ball Test saw him rip through West Indies with a jaw-dropping six wickets for just nine runs. It was a career-best performance — one he somehow managed to surpass the very next Test.
This statistical contrast sets up a fascinating subplot for the series: the personal duel between Root and Starc. Traditionally, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have caused Root the most trouble, but with both absent in the previous match, it was the ever-dangerous Starc who dismissed him for scores of 0 and 8. Root later described the first dismissal as a good ball that might not have carried to slip in English conditions, while the second — chopping on during a collapse — he blamed on his own misjudgment.
Another key twist: Starc is now relying heavily on wobble-seam deliveries, a weapon he adopted after advice from Cummins and Hazlewood. With Brisbane’s humidity likely to offer additional swing, England — already trailing 1–0 — will need Root to find runs quickly if they want to climb out of the early hole they’ve dug.
Interestingly, Root may not need to score a century to shift momentum, especially if the second Test turns into another fast-paced battle. But the ongoing narrative that he still hasn’t hit a Test hundred on Australian soil continues to follow him everywhere. When asked whether the statistic bothered him during the Perth match, Root simply joked that he hadn’t been in long enough to worry about it.
On Sunday, Root and the rest of the squad trained hard, blasting American West Coast hip-hop during an intense afternoon session. Key preparations, however, will happen under lights on Monday and Wednesday — the environment that matters most this week.
Team selection adds another layer of tension. With Mark Wood sidelined by a knee issue, England has a crucial spot to fill. Will Jacks batting with the main group hinted at his potential inclusion; his useful off-spin and ability to score lower-order runs may give England extra flexibility. Still, pace bowler Josh Tongue remains a strong option after training with the Lions, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, already part of last week’s squad, could be considered as well.
All of this unfolds at a stadium where England hasn’t won in more than four decades — a streak Root is determined to break. As he said, doing it here would make the victory even sweeter.
But what do you think?
Should the Ashes keep a day-night Test, even if it arguably tilts conditions in Australia’s favor?
Do pink-ball matches enhance the drama — or dilute the tradition of Test cricket?
Share your take. Let’s spark a real debate.
