Australian media outlets have renewed their attacks on England in the build-up to the second Ashes Test, with The West Australian targeting Joe Root over his remarks about the value of pink-ball cricket in such a historic series.
England, still reeling from their two-day defeat in Perth, reconvene in Brisbane on Thursday for the only day-night match of the tour, a format that has become a fixture of Australia’s home schedule.
Pink-ball Tests, introduced in 2015, have been played more often in Australia than anywhere else, with 13 of the 24 global fixtures staged there.
England have a far more limited, and far less successful, record in the format, having lost five of their seven day-night Tests, including two heavy defeats in Adelaide and another in Hobart in 2022.
Root, speaking ahead of the Brisbane Test, questioned whether the Ashes specifically required a pink-ball element.
“I personally don’t think so,” he said when asked if the series needed such a match.
He later expanded on his position, adding: “It does add to things. It’s successful and popular here, and Australia have got a good record here as well.
Joe Root has sparked anger in Australia for his comments on the pink-ball format
| PA"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.”
The West Australian seized on those comments, publishing a front-page image of Root on Monday accompanied by the headline: “Death, taxes and whiny Poms.”
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Five things to know about the Ashes | PAIt is the latest in a series of provocative covers since England arrived last month.
The paper labelled Ben Stokes a “cocky captain complainer” on landing, mocked the team as “pathetic Poms” after the Perth defeat, and derided Root as both “Average Joe” and “dud Root.”
The newspaper has long adopted a combative tone in Ashes coverage, though this series has seen a particularly sharp edge.
Australian players, meanwhile, defended the day-night format.
Travis Head, who struck a decisive century in the first Test, argued that it brings an enhanced spectacle.
“We’ve embraced it,” he said. “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?
Joe Root struggled with the bat again as England lost their Ashes opener against Australia | GETTY"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.”
He added that the shift to a pink ball is modest compared with the many changes modern cricket has undergone.
“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," he added.
The backdrop to the second Test has been dominated by criticism of England’s preparation and performance.
Former fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, writing for the same newspaper, labelled England “arrogant” after the Perth defeat and warned that they “risk serious embarrassment” if they do not “stop patting themselves on the back.” Stokes, however, dismissed that theory and fiercely defended the Three Lions and their preparations.