Robin Smith, the former England batter who went toe-to-toe with some of the greatest fast bowlers of the 1980s and 90s, has died at his home in Australia at the age of 62.
Smith played 62 Tests between 1988 and 1996, scoring 4,236 runs at 43.67 with nine centuries, including three against West Indies- the team that so often brought out his pugnacious best.
Smith’s signature shot was a front-foot square cut that was, by many estimations, one of the fiercest strokes in the world game, and it enabled him to thrive in cricket’s adrenalin-fuelled fast lane.
This was especially true on England’s memorable tour of the Caribbean in 1990, when Smith was instrumental in England’s victory in the first Test in Jamaica, and again on home soil in consecutive 2-2 drawn series against West Indies in 1991 and 1995.
At Edgbaston in 1993, Smith produced a remarkable innings of 167 not out in an ODI against Australia, a score which would remain England’s highest in the format for 23 years, until surpassed by Alex Hales in 2016.
However, his perceived weakness against spin counted against him at key moments of his career, in particular with the emergence of Australia’s Shane Warne, whose success in his maiden Ashes tour in 1993 persuaded the selectors to omit Smith from England’s subsequent visit to Australia 18 months later.
Ironically, Smith and Warne became lifelong friends – a relationship that was central to Warne’s decision to sign for Hampshire in the latter years of his career.
Born in South Africa in 1963, Smith was brought up to be a professional cricketer, and would spend hours honing his technique in the bespoke cricket net that his father built at the family home in Durban, and in which Barry Richards and Mike Procter counted among his practice partners.
Richards’ own connections with Hampshire had, in turn, persuaded the club to take a punt on his two young neighbours. Smith’s elder brother Chris would also go on to play for England after emigrating from South Africa in the early 1980s, but Robin’s debut – against West Indies at Headingley in 1988 – was the more eagerly anticipated of the two.
In a sign of things to come, his maiden innings comprised a century stand with his fellow South African import, Allan Lamb – another great player of West Indian fast bowling – only for England to collapse to a ten-wicket defeat at the hands of Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall and Courtney Walsh.
Runs machine with post-career struggles
Nicknamed ‘Judge’, Smith won 62 Test caps between 1988 and 1996 and scored 4,236 runs at an average 43.67, including nine centuries.
He also averaged 39.01 in 71 one-day internationals.
Smith spent his entire county career at Hampshire, winning two Benson and Hedges Cups and a NatWest Trophy and captaining them between 1998 and 2002.
He finished his 22-year career in 2003, with 26,155 first-class runs at 41.51.
Following his retirement, Smith, who had relocated to Australia, struggled with mental health issues and alcoholism and was hospitalised for several months in 2024.
His family said he died unexpectedly at his home in Perth on Monday. The cause of death is unknown.
“It is with the deepest and most profound sense of sadness and loss that we must announce the passing of Robin Smith,” a family statement read.
“Robin rose to fame as one of England’s most charismatic and popular players.
“A brave and dashing batsman, he excelled both for Hampshire and his adopted country, collecting legions of admirers and friends along the way.” (Excerpt from ESPNcricinfo with additional reporting from BBC)
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