Steve Smith Adopts Anti-Glare Strips for Upcoming Ashes Test

Smith Follows Chanderpaul's Guidance on Anti-Glare Strips

Steve Smith, the acting captain of Australia, has announced his intention to utilize anti-glare strips while batting in the second Ashes Test scheduled in Brisbane. This decision comes after receiving advice from West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The second match of the five-game Ashes series will feature a pink-ball format at the Gabba, commencing on December 4. In preparation, Smith practiced with the anti-glare strips under artificial lighting before facing England. He expressed that he noticed a beneficial effect from wearing them.

Smith revealed that he reached out to Chanderpaul to confirm the correct usage of the strips. "I actually messaged Shivnarine Chanderpaul and asked him what his thoughts were, whether he wore the chalk or the strips. 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," Smith stated, as reported by a sports media outlet. "I agree with him. I think it certainly stops the glare. Yeah, I'll be wearing them," he added.

These anti-glare strips are small, black adhesive pieces placed on the cheekbone, commonly used in various American sports to minimize glare from floodlights by absorbing light that would otherwise reflect off the skin.

Smith Discusses Challenges of Batting with Pink Ball

Smith also shared insights on the difficulties of batting with a pink ball, noting that in day-night Tests, he averages 37.04 with a single century. "It's hard to bat all the time. It's a tricky one. The ball reacts obviously differently to a red one. It can change quickly. It can start moving randomly," he explained.

"You've got to try and play what's in front of you at that time and when it does shift on you and the ball starts doing something different, you've got to try and come up with plans to counter that, whether it be more aggressive, whether it be going to your shell and trying to get through that period. Everyone's different. It's trying to be one step ahead when it does start to shift," Smith concluded.