Tributes Paid to England Batting Great, Who Has Died Aged 62.

During the period preceding the explosive Twenty20 format, few could match the cricket ball with greater ferocity as Robin Smith. Constructed with a prizefighter's frame yet endowed with the agile movement from his mother, a dancer, he produced shots – notably his ferocious square cut – with such violence they dented in boundary hoardings and shattered bowlers' confidence.

Smith has passed away after a prolonged illness, presented as a figure riddled with paradox. On the surface, he was the very image of fearless, attacking batsmanship, renowned for epic duels with fearsome quicks. Yet, behind this mask of confidence lay a man constantly questioning his own worth, a struggle he concealed throughout his career only to later fuelled struggles against addiction and mental health issues.

Raw Courage Mixed with a Desire for the Rush

His fearlessness against pace was unquestionably genuine. The motivation, however, involved a combination of pure grit and a confessed thrill-seeking nature. Many felt he wired differently, positively relishing the punishing challenge of confronting express bowling, a situation requiring lightning reflexes and a high tolerance for pain.

The ultimate demonstration came during an iconic innings of 148 not out for England facing the Caribbean pace attack at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1991. In challenging conditions, facing the furious onslaught of Curtly Ambrose and Malcolm Marshall, Smith not only survived but thrived, apparently delighting in the fierce contest of bouncers and boundaries. He later described the experience as leaving him “electrified”.

An Impressive Test Career

Featuring mostly as a middle-order batsman, Smith played for England over 62 Test matches and 71 One-Day Internationals from the late 80s to the mid-90s. He accumulated over four thousand Test runs averaging 43.67, which contained nine hundreds. In ODI cricket, he gathered almost two and a half thousand runs at an average close to 40.

Perhaps his most ferocious knock occurred in 1993 in Birmingham versus the old enemy, blasting a devastating 167. The innings was so powerful that even the then direct praise from the Prime Minister, John Major. Yet, in a cruel twist, the side could not secure victory the game.

The Moniker and Lasting Contradictions

Affectionately nicknamed ‘the Judge’ after a wig-like haircut resembling a judicial wig, his mean in Test cricket remains highly respectable, especially considering he featured for a frequently defeated England team. A common view is his international career was ended prematurely by the panel post a fractious series of South Africa in 1995-96.

In his own words, he was two distinct characters: ‘the Judge’, the tough, confrontational competitor who loved a fight, and Robin Smith, a vulnerable person. Each persona fought for dominance.

An unshakeable sense of loyalty could also be his downfall. One well-known episode involved him standing up for West Indian colleague Malcolm Marshall from racist abuse at a team hotel. Following unsuccessful appeals, he punched the ringleader, an act resulting in a broken hand and cost him a significant layoff.

Struggles in Retirement

Adapting to a world after professional sport was immensely challenging. The thrill of competition gave way to the mundane realities of running companies. Businesses involving a travel company did not succeed. Compounded by marital difficulties and mounting debts, he descended into heavy drinking and profound despair.

Emigrating to Western Australia alongside his children provided a new beginning but failed to fix his core problems. In a moment of deep crisis, he considered ending his life, only being pulled back from the brink through the care of his son and a compassionate neighbour.

He leaves behind Karin, his partner, his two children, and his brother, Chris.