Robin Smith, the former England cricketer known for his fearless batting against some of the fastest bowlers in history, has died at the age of 62. His family announced his unexpected death at his South Perth apartment on Monday 1 December, though the cause is yet to be determined.
Smith played 62 Tests for England between 1988 and 1996, averaging 43.67. His highest Test score of 175 came against a West Indies attack led by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh in Antigua in 1994. His best year was 1991, when he scored 675 runs at an average of 67.5, including a brilliant 148 against the same opponents.
Off the field, Smith struggled with alcoholism and mental health after retiring from cricket in 2004. He spent seven months in hospital last year with cirrhosis of the liver after drinking a bottle of vodka daily for over a decade. His family urged against speculation on his death, stating that a postmortem investigation will determine the cause.
Tributes have come from teammates and officials. Former England batter Mark Ramprakash described Smith as a phenomenal player and an even better person, recalling his kindness and bravery. ECB chair Richard Thompson called Smith 'a batter ahead of his time', noting his unforgettable unbeaten 167 from 163 balls in an ODI against Australia in 1993.
