australian acting captain steve smith During this time he is wearing strips of black tape under his eyes. Second Ashes Test against England at GabbaThis technique was made famous in cricket by former West Indies batsman Shivnarayan Chanderpaul.
Steve Smith’s black tape in Gabba Test: Know why he is wearing it
Smith implemented the use of black blindfolds as a direct solution to his struggles in catching the pink ball, especially under floodlights. Despite being one of the most experienced players globally in this format, having played 13 of his 121 Test matches with the pink ball, Smith felt he needed to retaliate. Before the match, Smith explained his decision in a press conference, saying:
“Playing against the pink ball, I think it may or may not be well documented, especially with the glare of the lights and even during the day I find it quite difficult to catch it.”
The black strips work by absorbing light, reducing the glare that bounces off the skin and enters the eyes, allowing him to track the pink ball more clearly. Smith confirmed the effectiveness of the technique in practice sessions:
“So yes, I’ve been using them in the nets, and I think they’ve made a huge difference. I feel like I’m actually picking up the ball a lot better than I used to, so yes, I’ll be rocking them in this game.” The Australian veteran batsman added.
Ashes 2025-26, Australia vs England: Tactical changes for special day-night format
Smith’s use of anti-glare strips underlines the unique and constantly evolving challenges presented by the day-night Test format and the pink ball. While the strips help with visibility, Smith also highlighted the need for constant tactical adjustments against the unusual behavior of the pink ball compared to the traditional red ball. The Australian batsman elaborated on the specific difficulties faced by the pink ball:
“The (pink) ball reacts differently to the red ball. It can change rapidly and start moving randomly. When it shifts on you, and the ball starts doing something different, you have to plan to counter that. It’s about being one step ahead.” Smith concluded.
By bringing back this old technique, Smith is using both physical and mental strategies to increase his focus and reaction time. Their adoption of the strips that had previously been popularized by the Giants Shivnarine ChanderpaulShows a practical approach to overcoming Glow And the unpredictable movement that has historically made the pink ball challenging for even the best batsmen.
Also read: IPL 2026: 5 franchises that can target Steve Smith in mini-auction
