Match Highlights: A detailed look at the key moments, performances, and results related to Match Highlights: The Ashes: Why is Steve Smith wearing black tape under his eyes? – Key Moments..
Australia batter Steve Smith is wearing black strips of tape under his eyes while batting in the second Ashes Test against England in Brisbane.
Smith was photographed wearing the patches while batting in the nets, but he discovered he was initially wearing the patches, known as ‘eye black’, incorrectly during the practice sessions.
Players are using a pink ball in the day-night Test which is played under floodlights.
The patches have been used in the past by former West Indies batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul to reduce the glare caused by the sun and improve contrast.
Eye black is commonly used in American sports, including American football, baseball and lacrosse.
Babe Ruth, one of baseball’s greatest players, used it in the 1930s and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady famously wore paint under his eyes too.
“I actually messaged Shivnarine Chanderpaul and asked him what his thoughts were, whether he wore the chalk or the strips,” said Smith.
“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,” he added.