Joe Root has reignited debate over the role of pink-ball cricket in the Ashes as England prepare for a crucial day-night Test against Australia in Brisbane. Trailing 1-0 in the five-match series, England face a formidable challenge at the Gabba, a venue where they have not tasted victory since 1986.
Root, who captained England in previous pink-ball encounters, questioned whether Test cricket’s oldest rivalry truly requires the day-night spectacle. While the International Cricket Council sanctioned day-night Tests in 2015 to boost global interest and TV audiences, the former England captain believes the Ashes carries enough weight without it.
“I personally don’t think so,” Root told BBC Sport when asked whether the format belongs in the Ashes. “It does add to things. It’s successful and popular here, and Australia have got a good record as well. You can see why we’re playing one of those games.”
Despite his reservations, Root accepted that teams have ample time to prepare.
“Ultimately, you know from two years out it is going to be there. 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, by contrast, have fully embraced pink-ball cricket. The country has hosted 13 of the 24 day-night Tests played worldwide and boasts an exceptional record, winning 13 of their 14 matches under lights.
Australia batter Travis Head defended the format, arguing it enhances the sport’s appeal and atmosphere. “We’ve embraced it. We’ve been able to put out a good product and play really well with it,” he said.
“Pink ball, white ball, red ball – who really cares? 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.”
Head believes the format adds variety without compromising the essence of Test cricket.
“It still works the same way. It’s still five days, just with a different coloured ball bringing a different atmosphere.”
Australia’s only defeat in a pink-ball Test came at the Gabba last year, when West Indies stunned them in a dramatic upset. However, their overall dominance under lights remains a significant psychological advantage.
England’s record is less encouraging. They have won only two of their seven day-night Tests, including three losses in Australia, highlighting the difficult transition between formats and conditions.
The only pink-ball Test played in England was against West Indies in 2017. While popular with spectators, the format has not become a regular feature in the English summer.
Traditionally, Australia’s day-night fixtures have been staged in Adelaide, attracting strong crowds and generating a unique atmosphere. Although the schedule for this Ashes series has shifted, with Adelaide hosting a daytime Test, organisers opted to retain a pink-ball match in Brisbane.
By opening the series in Perth’s west-coast time zone and following with a day-nighter in Brisbane, Cricket Australia has positioned the first two Tests in prime-time television slots for east-coast audiences. This commercial strategy also underscores the modern balance between tradition and broadcast-driven scheduling.
As England seek to level the series, the debate over pink-ball cricket adds another layer of intrigue to a rivalry already steeped in history. Whether the format enhances the Ashes or detracts from its tradition remains a matter of perspective—and perhaps, as Travis Head hinted, dependent on the outcome.
