The Ashes: Why is Steve Smith wearing black tape under his eyes?

Australia batter Steve Smith has been wearing black strips of tape under his eyes as he prepares for the second Ashes Test against England in Brisbane.

The day-night match 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.

Australia’s stand-in captain was photographed wearing the patches while batting in a nets session, with the anticipation of batting under the lights at the Gabba.

The method is known as ‘eye black’ and 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.

“There must be sort of science or theory around it,” explained Australia team-mate Marnus Labuschagne when asked about Smith’s patches.

“I haven’t read into it. I think it’s something to do with glare, especially on the wicket. The glare up from the wicket. Maybe it helped pick the ball up better.

“I look at it either way, if there is a science behind it or whether it is a placebo. If it doesn’t but it feels like it works, both ways, it works.

“I would love nothing more than to see him stroll out to the wicket with the Shivnarines and go out there and smack them around everywhere.”