Robin Smith, the former England cricketer known for his fearless batting against the world's fastest bowlers, has died at the age of 62. Smith played 62 Tests for England between 1988 and 1996, averaging 43.67, and was a key figure in the one-day side, featuring in 71 internationals including the 1992 World Cup final.
His highest Test score of 175 came against West Indies in Antigua in 1994, facing an attack led by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. That same match saw Brian Lara hit a record 375, but Smith's innings included 26 fours and three sixes. His best year was 1991, when he scored 675 runs at an average of 67.5, including a brilliant 148 against West Indies at Lord's.
Former England teammate Mark Ramprakash paid tribute, saying Smith was a phenomenal batter and an even better person. 'His skill and bravery in facing fast bowling was second to none,' Ramprakash said. 'He came off at Lord's covered in bruises but just brushed it off.'
After retiring from first-class cricket with over 26,000 runs and 61 hundreds, Smith moved to Perth, Australia. He struggled with alcoholism and mental health, spending seven months in hospital last year with cirrhosis of the liver. His family urged against speculation about his cause of death, which remains unknown pending a postmortem.
ECB chair Richard Thompson called Smith 'a batter ahead of his time,' recalling his unbeaten 167 from 163 balls in an ODI against Australia in 1993. Hampshire, where Smith helped win multiple trophies, also paid tribute, with chief executive Rod Bransgrove saying Smith 'embodied the spirit of Hampshire.'
