Joe Root and...? England players who might reverse pink-ball fate against Australia

Joe Root [Source: @jxspreet_sidhu/X.com]

England is ready to take on their counterparts at the Gabba, Brisbane, on December 4, amid the debris of a poor track record in pink-ball Tests. While Australia has a massive record at their Gabba fort, England would be struggling to keep up with the attack under the lights.

Nevertheless, there's always a silver lining in the fate of the Three Lions as, despite a poor track record, the squad boasts a few players who can actually help the team reverse their fortunes in pink ball battle.

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1) Joe Root

Joe Root, the talismanic England batter, can be a force to reckon with for Australia in the pink-ball test. His track record in the D/N test speaks for itself.

(Joe Root in D/N Tests)

Since 2017, Joe Root has played 7 pink ball tests and made 501 runs from them at an average of 38.53. What is even more fascinating is that Root has played 3 matches against Australia and has put on good scores of 40+ except for just two occasions.

(Joe Root against Australia in Tests)

Root is not in his best form now, but that doesn't mean the modern-day legend can't bounce back, especially on a turf that is reportedly going to favour batters on Days 1 and 2. Moreover, Root's track record in Australia is also remarkable, with an average of 39.29 from 35 Test matches while striking at 50.29.

2) Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer is back in England's red-ball fray after a hiatus, and the sensational pacer will be licking his lips to prove his worth in the squad. Though Archer has played only one pink-ball Test and managed a single wicket, his credentials are not something to be ignored.

(Jofra Archer against Australia and Tests)

Against Australia, Archer garners 24 wickets from 5 Tests while averaging at 20.91 and especially against left-handers, with Australia about to field 4 of them in the second Test, Archer can prove to be lethal.

(Jofra Archer vs left-hand batters in Tests)

Hence, though Archer might not be a proven candidate under the lights, the pink Kookaburra will come in handy in the evenings if Archer gets in his rhythm.

3) Ben Duckett

Ben Duckett is known for his unorthodox approach to bowlers, be they pacers or spinners. The Rishabh Pant-esque flair adds to the Bazball element, as Duckett knows how to wield it. Significantly, Duckett has the fifth-highest strike rate of 86.06 in Tests for England in the last 10 years while playing 72 innings.

(Ben Duckett's Test stats against Australia)

Duckett's record against Australia is also plausible. The fiery opener has all the elements that are needed to deliver and anchor from a high-pressure situation, yet it is also true that he is a high-risk, high-reward player who can blast if set and bust if he doesn't find his rhythm.

The moral of the story is Duckett has the capability to stabilise the top order and give England a solid foundation with his explosiveness, and might as well help England walk out of the cave of misfortune that encompasses them in pink-ball tests.

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