Steven Smith wears 'eye black' before the pink-ball match

Steven Smith wears 'eye black' before the pink-ball match

Steven Smith is set to try something unusual in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, wearing ‘eye blacks’ on his cheeks, similar to what former West Indies batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul once did. Smith tested the anti-glare strips during a floodlit training session last evening, ahead of the day-night, pink-ball match in Brisbane.

Smith has plenty of experience in pink-ball Tests, having played 13 of Australia’s 14 matches in the format. But his record is not as strong as in regular daytime Tests. He has only one century in 24 innings under lights, averaging 37.04, compared to 35 centuries and an average of 58.31 in daytime cricket.

Speaking earlier this year, Smith admitted that batting with the pink ball feels very different. He said it can be tricky to pick up the ball at certain times of the day, and its behaviour is unlike the red ball. While fans enjoy the spectacle of day-night cricket, Smith explained that batters find it more challenging because conditions can change quickly.

The ‘eye blacks’ he used in practice are small black strips placed on the cheekbones to reduce glare from floodlights. They are common in American sports and work by absorbing light that would otherwise reflect off the skin. Chanderpaul famously used them during his career, saying they helped cut down glare by up to 70%.

Former England captain Alastair Cook has also spoken about the difficulties of facing the pink ball. He noted that glare from the floodlights makes it hard to see the black seam, which is crucial for judging swing and movement. Without that visual cue, batters struggle to play with confidence.

Smith’s experiment came on the same day Joe Root questioned whether the Ashes should even include a pink-ball Test. Australia’s Travis Head brushed aside his comments. Meanwhile, Australia go into the Gabba Test with a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after beating England inside two days in Perth.