Australia batter Steve Smith has confirmed he will wear black strips of tape under his eyes for the second Ashes Test against England in Brisbane, after being photographed wearing the patches while batting in nets sessions this week.
He has since found out he was wearing the patches, known as ‘eye black’, incorrectly during the practice sessions.
The day-night Test will feature floodlights and the players will use a pink ball.
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.”
