Cricket Mourns England Batting Great, Aged 62.
Long before the dawn of the explosive T20 era, arguably nobody hit the leather with more raw power than Robin Smith. Shaped with a prizefighter's frame but possessing the agile movement of his ballet dancer mother, his shots were unleashed – the square cut in particular – with such immense force they could dent in perimeter fencing and shattered bowlers' confidence.
Smith, who has died after a prolonged illness, was a man riddled with paradox. To the public eye, he appeared the embodiment of fearless, attacking batsmanship, renowned for memorable contests with the world's fastest bowlers. But behind this show of machismo lay a man constantly questioning his own worth, a battle he masked throughout his career that subsequently led to struggles against alcoholism and depression.
Raw Courage Mixed with a Desire for Danger
His bravery versus fast bowling could never be doubted. The source of this courage, was a complex blend of pure grit and a self-confessed addiction to adrenaline. Many felt he was built differently, positively relishing the brutal examination of confronting express bowling, a situation requiring instant responses and a high tolerance for pain.
The ultimate demonstration came in his famous innings of 148 not out playing for England facing the Caribbean pace attack at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1991. On a tricky surface, as two of the greatest fast bowlers in history, Smith not only survived but counter-attacked with gusto, his eyes reportedly sparkling the fierce contest of short balls and fours. He later described the experience as leaving him “electrified”.
An Impressive England Tenure
Playing largely in the middle order, Smith played for England across 62 Tests plus 71 limited-overs games during an eight-year international span. He accumulated over four thousand Test runs at an average of 43.67, including nine centuries. In the one-day arena, he gathered 2,419 ODI runs averaging close to 40.
Perhaps his most ferocious knock was played in 1993 at Edgbaston facing the Aussies, blasting 167 ruthless runs. It was such a domineering performance he earned personally congratulated the Prime Minister, John Major. Yet, in a cruel twist, his team still failed to win the game.
The 'Judge' and a Troubled Soul
Dubbed ‘the Judge’ because of a youthful haircut that looked like a judge's wig, his mean in Test cricket was notably impressive, especially considering his career spanned in a losing era. A common view is he was discarded somewhat unfairly following a contentious trip in South Africa during the mid-90s.
As he later confessed, he existed as a dual personality: ‘The Judge’, the arrogant, combative cricketer who thrived on battle, and the man himself, a vulnerable person. Each persona suppressed the other.
His fierce loyalty sometimes caused him problems. Most famously he intervened to protect West Indian colleague Malcolm Marshall following racist slurs in Leicester. Following unsuccessful appeals, he punched the main aggressor, a response that broke his own hand leading to a significant layoff.
Struggles in Retirement
Adapting to a world outside the dressing room proved exceptionally difficult. The buzz of the game gave way to the mundane realities of running companies. Ventures into a travel company ultimately faltered. Coupled with problems in his marriage and serious money troubles, he descended into heavy drinking and profound despair.
A move to Australia alongside his children offered a fresh start but couldn't resolve his underlying issues. At his lowest point, he considered ending his life, and was only saved from that decision by the intervention of his son and a compassionate neighbour.
His family includes his partner, Karin, his son and daughter, and elder brother Chris.
