🔗 Share this article Cricket Mourns Robin Smith, Who Has Died Aged 62. Long before the dawn of the high-octane T20 format, few could match a cricket ball with more raw power as Robin Smith. Built with a prizefighter's frame yet endowed with the nimble footwork inherited from his mother, a ballet dancer, he produced shots – the square cut in particular – with such devastating power they could dent in boundary hoardings and deflated the hopes of the opposition. The cricketer's death comes after a prolonged illness, existed riddled with paradox. Outwardly, he was the very image of a brave, front-foot player, renowned for thrilling battles against express pace. But behind this mask of confidence lay a deeply insecure individual, a conflict he kept hidden during his playing days that subsequently contributed to struggles against depression and addiction. Unflinching Guts Coupled with a Craving for Adrenaline His bravery versus fast bowling could never be doubted. But the driving force, was a curious mix of innate toughness and a confessed addiction to adrenaline. He seemed was neurologically unique, positively relishing the punishing challenge of standing up to thunderbolts, which calls for lightning reflexes and a willingness to suffer physical punishment. This was perfectly illustrated during his legendary innings of 148 not out playing for England facing the Caribbean pace attack at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1991. In challenging conditions, against the rampant two of the greatest fast bowlers in history, Smith not only survived but thrived, his eyes reportedly sparkling the physical duel of bouncers and boundaries. He later described that it left him feeling “tingling”. A Stellar Test Career Featuring mostly at number five or six, He earned caps for England in 62 Test matches and 71 One-Day Internationals between 1988 and 1996. He scored more than four thousand runs in Tests with a mean of 43.67, which contained nine hundreds. In the 50-over format, he made 2,419 runs with an average nearing forty. A particularly brutal innings occurred in 1993 at Edgbaston facing the Aussies, hammering 167 ruthless runs. The display was so impressive he earned commendations from the country's leader. However, in a frustrating pattern, the side still failed to win the game. The 'Judge' and Lasting Contradictions Known widely as ‘Judge’ after a wig-like haircut reminiscent of a court wig, his mean in Test cricket remains highly respectable, particularly given he featured for a frequently defeated England team. Many believe selectors moved on from him too hastily by selectors post a fractious series to South Africa in the winter of 95/96. As he later confessed, he was two distinct characters: ‘The Judge’, the arrogant, combative cricketer who loved a fight, and the man himself, a vulnerable person. These two sides fought for dominance. His staunch allegiance occasionally led to trouble. Most famously saw him defend West Indian colleague Malcolm Marshall from racist abuse in a hotel bar. After words failed, he punched the ringleader, a response that broke his own hand causing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Life After Cricket The transition to life after professional sport was immensely challenging. The thrill of competition was replaced by the ordinary pressures of business. Ventures into bat manufacturing ultimately faltered. Alongside marital difficulties and serious money troubles, he spiralled into alcohol dependency and deep depression. Relocating to Perth alongside his children offered a fresh start but failed to fix his personal demons. At his lowest point, he considered ending his life, only being pulled back from the brink by the intervention of family and a neighbour. He leaves behind his partner, Karin, his two children, and elder brother Chris.
Long before the dawn of the high-octane T20 format, few could match a cricket ball with more raw power as Robin Smith. Built with a prizefighter's frame yet endowed with the nimble footwork inherited from his mother, a ballet dancer, he produced shots – the square cut in particular – with such devastating power they could dent in boundary hoardings and deflated the hopes of the opposition. The cricketer's death comes after a prolonged illness, existed riddled with paradox. Outwardly, he was the very image of a brave, front-foot player, renowned for thrilling battles against express pace. But behind this mask of confidence lay a deeply insecure individual, a conflict he kept hidden during his playing days that subsequently contributed to struggles against depression and addiction. Unflinching Guts Coupled with a Craving for Adrenaline His bravery versus fast bowling could never be doubted. But the driving force, was a curious mix of innate toughness and a confessed addiction to adrenaline. He seemed was neurologically unique, positively relishing the punishing challenge of standing up to thunderbolts, which calls for lightning reflexes and a willingness to suffer physical punishment. This was perfectly illustrated during his legendary innings of 148 not out playing for England facing the Caribbean pace attack at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1991. In challenging conditions, against the rampant two of the greatest fast bowlers in history, Smith not only survived but thrived, his eyes reportedly sparkling the physical duel of bouncers and boundaries. He later described that it left him feeling “tingling”. A Stellar Test Career Featuring mostly at number five or six, He earned caps for England in 62 Test matches and 71 One-Day Internationals between 1988 and 1996. He scored more than four thousand runs in Tests with a mean of 43.67, which contained nine hundreds. In the 50-over format, he made 2,419 runs with an average nearing forty. A particularly brutal innings occurred in 1993 at Edgbaston facing the Aussies, hammering 167 ruthless runs. The display was so impressive he earned commendations from the country's leader. However, in a frustrating pattern, the side still failed to win the game. The 'Judge' and Lasting Contradictions Known widely as ‘Judge’ after a wig-like haircut reminiscent of a court wig, his mean in Test cricket remains highly respectable, particularly given he featured for a frequently defeated England team. Many believe selectors moved on from him too hastily by selectors post a fractious series to South Africa in the winter of 95/96. As he later confessed, he was two distinct characters: ‘The Judge’, the arrogant, combative cricketer who loved a fight, and the man himself, a vulnerable person. These two sides fought for dominance. His staunch allegiance occasionally led to trouble. Most famously saw him defend West Indian colleague Malcolm Marshall from racist abuse in a hotel bar. After words failed, he punched the ringleader, a response that broke his own hand causing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Life After Cricket The transition to life after professional sport was immensely challenging. The thrill of competition was replaced by the ordinary pressures of business. Ventures into bat manufacturing ultimately faltered. Alongside marital difficulties and serious money troubles, he spiralled into alcohol dependency and deep depression. Relocating to Perth alongside his children offered a fresh start but failed to fix his personal demons. At his lowest point, he considered ending his life, only being pulled back from the brink by the intervention of family and a neighbour. He leaves behind his partner, Karin, his two children, and elder brother Chris.