Australia’s Steve Smith has eyes on the prize in the 2nd Ashes test against England
New Zealand led West Indies by 96 runs after Day 2 of the first test in Christchurch. Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul hit half-centuries, but Jacob Duffy’s five-wicket haul and Matt Henry’s three wickets kept New Zealand ahead
Brisbane: Now that he has worked out that he had them upside down, Steve Smith is more confident about wearing the black strips under his eyes for the day-night Ashes test match at the Gabba.
More commonly used by footballers playing under lights, the black strips are part of Smith’s attempt to leave nothing to chance while facing the pink ball against England’s bowling attack in changing light conditions.
The Australians are coming off an eight-wicket victory in the series opener in Perth, which finished on Day 2 after Ben Stokes’ England lineup wasted strong momentum at several stages while pursuing an attack-at-all-costs Bazball routine.
Smith is expecting more of the same from England. He said his lineup would also offer more of the Aussie approach to the game, describing it as a pragmatic focus on playing to the conditions.
Hence, his new look — one he borrowed from ex-West Indies batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul — gained plenty of attention around cricket circles when he experimented with it at practice this week.
“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 per cent of the glare,” Smith said Wednesday at the captain’s news conference on the eve of the second test. “He also said I’ve seen photos and you’re wearing them the wrong way. So yesterday I put them on the right way and I agree. It certainly stops the glare and yes, I’ll be wearing them.”
The Australians have been forced into at least one change after Usman Khawaja was ruled out of the second test because of back problems that curtailed his participation in Perth last week, with most pundits predicting a return for Josh Inglis in the middle order and Travis Head opening the innings again after being the star of the first test.
Smith said Australia would delay finalising a starting XI until after a proper look at the pitch, then had to deal with speculation about injured skipper Pat Cummins being rushed back into the lineup from outside the match squad. He fielded multiple questions without giving a definitive answer.
The Australians have an excellent record in day-night test matches, with only one blemish — an upset eight-run loss to West Indies in January last year at the Gabba, a ground where the Australians have been otherwise close to unbeatable for decades.
England has not won an Ashes test at the Gabba since 1986, and has not won a test on Australian soil since the 2010-11 series.
Stokes has vowed to maintain England’s “blueprint” for attacking approach, which was heavily criticised in Perth. Asked to describe Australia’s way, he kept it simple.
“Adapting to conditions and what’s in front of us — playing the game in real time,” he said. “That’s one thing this team has done really well for a period of time, been able to sum up the conditions, play what’s in front in live time. And I think if you do that in test cricket, it holds you in pretty good stead.” (AP)
