Aussies after a happy tale of the tape

CRICKET Australia's Marnus Labuschagne has backed Steve Smith's adoption of black eye tape ahead of the day/night Ashes Test in Brisbane - regardless of whether it really helps.

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Smith applied the dark strips on either side of his face when he netted under lights at the Gabba on Sunday evening, hoping to counteract the effects of the artificial bulbs. West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul was an eager exponent of the practice, which has not caught on in cricket but has established a healthy following in the NFL. Labuschagne has no idea if there is a material benefit but think the stand-in skipper is right to explore.