If you have not already seen it, which is difficult as the photos are all over social media, Steve Smith is set to re-introduce to the cricket fans the anti-glare black strips, previously made famous by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, in the upcoming 2nd Test of the Ashes 2025/26.
After Travis Head’s ballistic century in Perth that helped the hosts take a 1-0 lead, the AUS vs ENG Ashes caravan now moves to Brisbane, where the 2nd Test will be played at the Gabba. It will be a day-night fixture to be played with a pink ball.
Australia have an outstanding record in day-night pink-ball Test matches: 13 wins and only one defeat. While Adelaide used to host the day-night Test regularly, the Gabba has hosted three such contests. Of these three, Australia won the first two—against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2016 and 2019, respectively—but lost the last one against the West Indies in 2024.
Steve Smith has an ordinary record in day-night Tests: an average of 37 in 13 Tests, well below his lofty standards of an average of 58 in red-ball Test matches. He has hit one century and five fifties, including a 91 in the lost Test against the West Indies.
AUS vs ENG: What is the black strip Steve Smith is wearing in 2nd Test of the Ashes?
To improve his performances against the pink ball in day-night Tests, Steve Smith has copied Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s tactic of using anti-glare, adhesive black strips to be worn on the cheekbone under his eyes that would absorb the glare of the pink ball and also the floodlights.
On the eve of the Brisbane Test, Smith confirmed that he would be wearing it in the match and revealed his conversation with Chanderpaul.
Smith said, “I actually messaged Shivnarine Chanderpaul and asked him what his thoughts were, whether he wore the chalk or the strips. He said the strips, and he thinks it blocks out 65% of the glare. And he also said, ‘I’ve seen photos and you’re wearing them the wrong way’. So yesterday I put them on the right way. I agree with him. I think it certainly stops the glare. Yeah, I’ll be wearing them.”
Smith had been using these strips over the last few days while batting during the nets and gave a positive review of the effect of them in absorbing a portion of glare from the pink ball.
These strips are known as ‘Eye Blacks’ and are commonly used in American sports to reduce the glare from floodlights in the stadium by absorbing the light that would reflect off the skin.
Steve Smith is keen to do better in the day-night Test. He spoke of the challenges he’s faced in pink-ball matches, with the pink ball known to swing much more than the red ball in the third session of the day under lights.
“It’s hard to bat all the time. It’s a tricky one. The ball reacts obviously differently to a red one. It can change quickly. It can start moving randomly,” he added.
Meanwhile, Australia have made two changes to their line up. Apart from replacing the injured Usman Khawaja with Josh Inglis – Travis Head will retain his spot as opener – the hosts have dropped veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon, and in comes speedster Michael Neser. This is the first time since the Perth Test against India in 2012 that Lyon will miss a home Test match.
England, on the other hand, have brought in off-spinning all-rounder Will Jacks in place of Mark Wood, who misses the Gabba Test due to a knee issue.
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