Pat Cummins is still unavailable, so Steve Smith will command Australia in the Ashes 2025–26 for the second Test as well. Even if he is anticipated to score runs and set an example for the forthcoming match at the Gabba in Brisbane, there is something quite strange about the unconventional hitter: he will be wearing eye blacks while batting, something Shivnarine Chanderpaul is most known for.
Chanderpaul spoke with Smith on the proper manner to carry the eye blacks after the images of the Australian batsman wearing them during the pre-second match practice sessions went viral. Notably, Smith had contacted the West Indies veteran to ask him how to employ eye blacks most effectively, and the veteran was gracious enough to share his knowledge.
In fact, I messaged Shivnarine Chanderpaul to find out his opinion on whether he wore the strips or the chalk. According to him, 65% of the glare is blocked by the strips. ‘I’ve seen pictures, and you’re wearing them incorrectly,’ he added. Thus, I put them on correctly yesterday. I concur with him. It definitely stops the glare, in my opinion.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Smith stated, “Yeah, I’ll be wearing them.”
Given that the match in Brisbane will be a day-night match, Smith will be wearing eye blacks on the pitch for the first time in his Test career. Since the Pink Ball is somewhat more useful for the pacers, the seasoned batter has stated that the blacks will help him significantly lessen the glare and eventually score some runs in challenging circumstances.
The most well-known batter to have worn the eye blacks during his active international career is Chanderpaul. The blacks helped him become just the second player after the legendary Brian Lara to reach the 10000-run milestone in Test matches for the West Indies, though it was more about his temperament and skill. In addition, after 164 Test matches and nearly 12,000 runs, he kept his batting average at 51.37.
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