Remembering England Batting Great, Who Has Died Aged 62.

In the age before the high-octane Twenty20 era, few could match the cricket ball with such sheer force than Robin Smith. Constructed with the physique of a fighter but possessing the quick feet inherited from his mother, a ballet dancer, his shots were unleashed – notably his ferocious square cut – with such violence they could dent in boundary hoardings and deflated the hopes of the opposition.

Smith, who has died after a prolonged illness, presented as a figure of profound contradictions. To the public eye, he was the very image of a brave, front-foot player, renowned for thrilling battles against express pace. Yet, behind this mask of confidence lay a person plagued by self-doubt, a struggle he masked during his playing days but which later contributed to problems of addiction and mental health issues.

Raw Courage Coupled with a Craving for the Rush

His courage facing quick bowlers was unquestionably genuine. The source of this courage, involved a combination of innate toughness and an admitted thrill-seeking nature. He seemed wired differently, positively relishing the masochistic test of facing extreme pace, a situation requiring lightning reflexes and a willingness to suffer physical punishment.

The ultimate demonstration came during his legendary undefeated knock of 148 playing for England facing the Caribbean pace attack at the Home of Cricket in 1991. On a tricky surface, as Curtly Ambrose and Malcolm Marshall, he did not merely endure but thrived, apparently delighting in the physical duel of bouncers and boundaries. He admitted afterwards that it left him feeling “buzzing”.

An Impressive Test Career

Batting primarily at number five or six, Smith represented England in 62 Test matches and 71 One-Day Internationals from the late 80s to the mid-90s. He scored 4,236 Test runs averaging 43.67, which contained nine hundreds. In the one-day arena, he made 2,419 runs with an average just under 40.

One of his most destructive displays came in 1993 in Birmingham against Australia, hammering a brutal 167 runs. The display was so impressive that even the then commendations from PM John Major. Sadly, a recurring theme, his team still failed to win the match.

The 'Judge' and a Troubled Soul

Known widely as ‘The Judge’ due to an early hairstyle resembling a judicial wig, his batting average in Tests was notably impressive, particularly given he played during a period of English struggle. Many believe selectors moved on from him somewhat unfairly following a contentious trip of South Africa during the mid-90s.

He admitted in his autobiography, he felt like two distinct characters: ‘The Judge’, the arrogant, combative cricketer who thrived on battle, and Robin Smith, a sensitive, emotional man. The two identities suppressed the other.

An unshakeable sense of loyalty occasionally led to trouble. One well-known episode involved him standing up for West Indian colleague Malcolm Marshall from racist abuse in a hotel bar. After words failed, he punched the ringleader, a move which fractured his hand causing six weeks of cricket.

Life After Cricket

Adapting to a world after professional sport proved exceptionally difficult. The thrill of competition was replaced by the ordinary pressures of commerce. Attempts at bat manufacturing eventually failed. Coupled with problems in his marriage and serious money troubles, he descended into alcohol dependency and profound despair.

Emigrating to Western Australia with his family provided a new beginning but failed to fix his personal demons. In a moment of deep crisis, he contemplated suicide, and was only saved from the brink through the care of his child and a friend.

His family includes Karin, his partner, Harrison and Margaux, and brother Chris.