Explained: Why Steve Smith is wearing black tape under eyes in the Gabba test of The Ashes 2025-26

Steve Smith had talked with former West Indies cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul prior to the game.

Australian batter and stand-in captain Steve Smith keeps the black anti-glare tape strips across his eyes at the second Ashes test match held at The Gabba.

These strips allow him to better track the pink ball under lights in the day-night test format, a technique first popularized by renowned West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.  

In the day-night test, which is conducted under floodlights, players use a pink ball. American sports, including baseball, lacrosse, and American football, frequently employ eye black.

One of baseball’s finest players, Babe Ruth, utilized it in the 1930s, and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is renowned for wearing paint under his eyes.

I struggle quite a bit picking the pink ball up with the glare off the lights: Steve Smith on wearing black tape under his eyes

Smith, who has previously battled with the pink ball, opted to use this technique in the second test of the Ashes 2025-26 to fight the visibility issues posed by the unique format.

“Playing against the pink ball, I think it might be well documented or not that I quite struggle picking it up with the glare off the lights in particular, and even during the day.” So yeah, I’ve been using them in the nets, and I feel like they’ve made quite a large difference. I feel like I’ve actually been picking the ball up far better than I have previously, so yeah, I’ll be rocking them this game,” Steve Smith stated before the game.

Smith is one of the most seasoned players in pink ball cricket worldwide, having used the pink ball in 13 of his 120 test appearances.

“The (pink) ball reacts differently to a red one. It can change quickly and can start moving randomly. When it does shift on you, and the ball starts doing something different, you have got to come up with plans to counter that. It is about being one step ahead,” he added.

Australia’s stand-in captain scored a half-century from 67 balls at the Gabba to help his team get closer to England’s first innings total, regardless of whether the patches were a placebo.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.