Steve Smith eye black controversy in Ashes Test

Smith Experiments With Anti-Glare Strips Before Day-Night Test

Australia’s stand-in captain Steven Smith is preparing for a new challenge ahead of the second Ashes Test 2025 at the Gabba, as he was spotted using ‘eye blacks’—black anti-glare adhesive strips—during Sunday’s floodlit training session. So let’s have a look at Steve Smith eye black controversy.

The day-night Test, beginning Thursday in Brisbane, will feature the pink ball, a format where Smith has historically struggled compared to red-ball cricket.

Smith’s Mixed Record in Pink-Ball Tests

Despite playing in 13 of Australia’s 14 pink-ball Tests, Smith’s returns have been modest.

  • Pink-ball record: 1 century from 24 innings, average 37.04

  • Red-ball record: 35 centuries in 190 innings, average 58.31

Smith has often spoken about the difficulty of facing the pink ball, especially under lights.

“The pink ball is a completely different game,” Smith said earlier during the West Indies tour. “It’s difficult to pick up at certain times and behaves differently from the red one.”

He added that while fans enjoy the spectacle of day-night Tests, batters face significant challenges due to rapid shifts in conditions.

Why Smith Is Turning to ‘Eye Blacks’

The eye-black strips Smith tested are commonly used in American sports to reduce glare from bright lights. They absorb light that would otherwise reflect off the skin, helping players pick up the ball more clearly.

Former West Indies batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul famously used them during his career.

Chanderpaul once noted that the strips helped “reduce 60–70% of glare,” improving visibility in harsh lighting.

Also read: The Ashes: Origins of Cricket’s Greatest Rivalry

Visibility Challenges With the Pink Ball

Former England captain Alastair Cook has previously described the pink ball’s glare and its impact on reading the seam—an essential element for batters.

Cook wrote that the reflection from the ball’s leather often makes the black seam nearly impossible to see under floodlights, making shot selection and judgment extremely difficult.

Debate Over Pink-Ball Ashes Test Sparks Again

Smith’s eye-black experiment came on the same day England’s Joe Root publicly questioned the need for a pink-ball Ashes Test. Australia’s Travis Head, however, dismissed Root’s concerns, insisting players must adapt.

Australia currently lead the five-match series 1–0 after a dominant win over England inside two days in Perth.

What Smith Hopes to Gain

By adopting the unconventional technique, Smith appears determined to improve his visibility and performance in pink-ball conditions, as Australia look to extend their series lead under the Gabba lights.

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