Australia’s acting captain, Steve Smith, is contemplating the use of NFL-style eye black to mitigate glare and enhance visibility of the pink ball during the upcoming Ashes Test at the Gabba. This innovative approach is part of Smith’s preparation for the match set to commence on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja joined his teammates for their initial training session in Brisbane but did not participate in batting and left the session early. Smith, however, tested the eye black strips during a lengthy practice session against deliveries from coaches Andrew McDonald and Michael Di Venuto.
Training Dynamics and Team Preparations
During the training, Khawaja engaged in physiotherapy and light fielding exercises but refrained from batting, departing around 7 PM. Known for his extensive batting sessions two days before a Test, Khawaja’s early exit raised questions about his readiness.
Prior to the session, Travis Head expressed his readiness to continue opening the batting if required, aligning with captain Pat Cummins’ perspective that traditional batting positions are becoming obsolete. “I agree with Pat,” Head stated. “I think you could use this order and these players in a range of different ways. Traditionalists will say that is how it has got to be.”
The Influence of American Sports
Smith’s consideration of eye black highlights the challenges of playing with a pink ball under lights and reflects his exposure to American sports, having recently resided in Manhattan. Eye black, popularized in the 1930s by baseball legend Babe Ruth and later adopted by NFL player Andy Farkas in the 1940s, remains a staple among American football players.
While studies on its effectiveness are mixed, some athletes use it to project an intimidating “game face,” and others have faced penalties for inscribing inappropriate messages on the strips. In cricket, West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul also utilized eye black during his career.
Australia’s Mixed Record with the Pink Ball
Australia’s performance in pink ball matches at the Gabba has been inconsistent. They suffered a defeat against the West Indies in 2024, dominated Sri Lanka in 2019, and narrowly overcame Pakistan in 2016. “It is always a challenge batting under lights when the ball is new,” Smith remarked prior to the 2024 encounter. “I find with the pink ball batting at night is probably easier to see the ball.”
“I feel like I’m batting well, and hopefully I can make some good decisions this week and get a total,” Smith added.
Smith’s Return and Readiness
Smith returned from the United States a few weeks before the first Ashes Test, having been granted time by national selectors to spend in his adopted home rather than participating in every Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales. “I’ve got pretty much two weeks before my first game, which is probably too much these days,” Smith commented upon his return to Sydney.
Smith’s confidence in his preparation is evident. “I’ve had three hits since I’ve been back. Everything feels good. I’ve been training quite hard, been doing a lot of lifting, trying to get a bit stronger,” he explained. Despite feeling mentally drained more quickly than in the past, Smith is optimistic about his readiness for the upcoming Test.
The Ashes Test at the Gabba promises to be a test of adaptability and strategy, with Smith’s potential use of eye black symbolizing a blend of traditional cricketing skill and innovative approaches influenced by global sports practices. As the match approaches, all eyes will be on Smith and his team as they seek to leverage every advantage in their pursuit of victory.
