Joe Root has questioned whether the Ashes needs to include a pink-ball Test as England prepare to meet Australia in a day-nighter in Brisbane.
England are 1-0 behind in the five-match series after defeat in Perth and will attempt to level the series from Thursday at the Gabba – a ground where they have not won since 1986.
Day-night Tests were sanctioned by the International Cricket Council in 2015 in the hope audiences would be “encouraged and improved”.
The concept has been embraced in Australia. Thirteen of the 24 day-night Tests to have been played have been in this country.
Australia also have an outstanding record in day-night Tests, winning 13 of their 14 worldwide. England have won two of their seven, including three defeats in Australia.
Asked whether he believed the Ashes, cricket’s oldest rivalry, needs a day-night Test, former England captain Root told BBC Sport: “I personally don’t think so.
“It does add to things. It’s successful and popular here, and Australia have got a good record here as well. You can see why we’re playing one of those games.
“Ultimately, you know from two years out it is going to be there. It’s part and parcel of making sure you’re ready for it.
“A series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be here either.”
Australia batter Travis Head offered an opposing view when he said: “We’ve embraced it. We’ve been able to put out a good product and play really well with it.
“Pink ball, white ball, red ball – who really cares? Does it need it, does it not? It’s a great spectacle and we’re going to have huge crowds again.
“If you win, you think it’s great. If you lose, maybe not. Both teams may have differing opinions by the end of it. I think it’s great for the game.
“We talk about T20, T10 and you see all these different formats. It still works the same way. It’s still five days, it’s just with a slightly different coloured ball and it brings a different atmosphere.”
Australia’s solitary defeat in a pink-ball Test came in their previous day-nighter at the Gabba, a shock loss to West Indies last year.
There has been one day-night Test played in England – against West Indies in 2017.
Australia have traditionally held their floodlit Tests in Adelaide, events that have proved popular with fans.
Though the Ashes schedule has changed for this tour – Adelaide is the third Test in the series and played in the day time – the pink-ball Test has remained on the calendar.
By beginning the series in Perth, in the west-coast time zone, and following with a day-nighter in Brisbane, the series opens with two matches suitable for prime-time TV viewing on the east coast of Australia.
