Remembering England Batting Great, Who Has Died Aged 62.

Long before the dawn of the high-octane Twenty20 era, arguably nobody hit a cricket ball with such sheer force than Robin Smith. Built with the physique of a fighter yet endowed with the nimble footwork from his mother, a dancer, his shots were unleashed – notably his ferocious square cut – with such immense force that they left dents in advertising boards and deflated the morale of opponents.

Smith has passed away following a long period of ill health, presented as a figure riddled with paradox. Outwardly, he was the epitome of courageous, aggressive batting, renowned for thrilling battles against express pace. However, beneath this facade of bravado lay a person plagued by self-doubt, a struggle he masked while on the field only to later contributed to problems of alcoholism and depression.

Raw Courage and a Thirst for Adrenaline

His bravery versus fast bowling could never be doubted. The motivation, however, involved a combination of innate toughness and an admitted need for the rush. Teammates wondered if he was built differently, positively relishing the brutal examination of confronting express bowling, which demanded blistering reactions and an ability to absorb blows.

This trait was never better displayed during an iconic unbeaten 148 playing for England against the West Indies at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1991. On a tricky surface, facing the furious onslaught of Curtly Ambrose and Malcolm Marshall, Smith stood firm he positively flourished, his eyes reportedly sparkling the physical duel of short balls and fours. He later described the experience as leaving him “buzzing”.

A Notable Test Career

Batting primarily at number five or six, Smith represented England in 62 Test matches and 71 One-Day Internationals between 1988 and 1996. He amassed 4,236 Test runs with a mean of 43.67, including nine three-figure scores. In ODI cricket, he made 2,419 ODI runs at an average nearing forty.

One of his most destructive displays occurred in 1993 against Australia against Australia, hammering a devastating 167. The display was so impressive that even the then personally congratulated PM John Major. However, in a frustrating pattern, the side ended up losing the match.

The Moniker and Lasting Contradictions

Affectionately nicknamed ‘Judge’ after a wig-like haircut that looked like a judge's wig, his mean in Test cricket stands as commendable, particularly given he played for a frequently defeated England team. A common view is his international career was ended somewhat unfairly after a difficult tour of South Africa during the mid-90s.

As he later confessed, he was a dual personality: ‘The Judge’, the ruthless on-field warrior who lived for conflict, and Robin Smith, a gentle, feeling individual. Each persona suppressed the other.

His staunch allegiance sometimes caused him problems. Most famously involved him standing up for teammate Malcolm Marshall following racist slurs in a hotel bar. Following unsuccessful appeals, he punched the primary abuser, a move resulting in a broken hand causing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The Difficult Transition

Moving on from the game outside the dressing room proved exceptionally difficult. The adrenaline rush was replaced by the routine demands of business. Businesses involving bat manufacturing did not succeed. Alongside marital difficulties and serious money troubles, he descended into heavy drinking and severe depression.

Relocating to Perth alongside his children was meant to be a reset but failed to fix his underlying issues. At his lowest point, he considered ending his life, and was only saved from the edge through the care of his child and a friend.

He leaves behind his partner, Karin, his son and daughter, and his brother, Chris.