As Australia continue their strong reply on Day 2 of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba — crossing 200 runs with Steven Smith steady at the crease — fans noticed something unusual about the former captain: Smith is batting with black anti-glare strips under his eyes.
This isn’t a fashion choice. It’s a deliberate tactical move Smith confirmed before the Test, after receiving advice from West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Smith revealed that he had been using the strips incorrectly in training, until Chanderpaul messaged him saying:
“I’ve seen photos and you’re wearing them the wrong way.”
Chanderpaul also told him that properly used strips block up to 65% of glare, especially under floodlights — a crucial advantage in pink-ball Tests where Smith has historically struggled.
Smith trained under lights ahead of this match and immediately felt a difference, saying:
“I think it certainly stops the glare. Yeah, I’ll be wearing them.”
The strips, commonly used in American sports, work by absorbing light that would otherwise reflect off the skin and into a batter’s eyes — a small but valuable edge when facing the pink ball during twilight sessions.
Smith averages 37.04 in day-night Tests (compared to 58.31 in regular Tests), so every little advantage counts. With Australia now past 208/3, Smith’s move seems timely as he looks to steer the hosts toward England’s first-innings total of 334.
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