The family of Robin Smith has announced 鈥渨ith the deepest and most profound sadness鈥� the death on the former England batter, aged 62.
Smith played 62 Test matches between 1988 and 1996, scoring 4,236 runs with nine centuries at an average of 43.67. He was also part of the England squad that reached the 1992 ICC Men鈥檚 Cricket World Cup final against Pakistan.
Smith is remembered as one of the greatest players of fast bowling England have ever had 鈥� his fearsome cut shot the thing of legend.
A statement from the Smith family said:
听It is with the deepest and most profound sense of sadness and loss that we must announce the passing of Robin Arnold Smith, beloved father of Harrison and Margaux and cherished brother of Christopher.
Robin died unexpectedly at his South Perth apartment on Monday 1st December. The cause of his death is at present unknown.
Robin known widely as 鈥楾he Judge鈥� was originally born in South Africa in 1963 to parents John and Joy and is the younger brother to Christopher (Kippy) Smith. Robin rose to fame as one of England鈥檚 most charismatic and popular players. A brave and dashing batsman, he excelled both for Hampshire and his adopted country collecting legions of admirers and friends along the way.
Since his retirement from the game in 2004 his battles with alcohol and mental health have been well documented but these should not form the basis of speculation about the cause of death which will be determined at postmortem investigation.
This is an immensely difficult period for us all whilst we try to come to terms with our bereavement, and we would therefore much appreciate consideration for our privacy by media and cricket followers alike.
From Robin鈥檚 loving family.
Just a fortnight ago Smith met with the England Lions squad during their tour match at Lilac Hil in Perth following an invitation from coach Andrew Flintoff.
Smith spoke for more than an hour, with engrossed players and staff congregated around him, offering advice making the step up to international cricket and recalling some of the stories from his memorable career. He posed for photos with the squad and wished them the best for the remainder of the ongoing tour.
Born in Durban, South Africa, Smith moved to England to play for Hampshire in 1983 鈥� retiring from cricket 17 years later, aged 40, with 18,984 county runs to his name and a reputation as a Hampshire great.
At the time of his retirement, Hampshire Chair Rod Bransgrove described Smith as 鈥渢he most influential player in the history of Hampshire cricket鈥�.
He made his England bow five years after his move to Hampshire, in 1988, and put on 100 for the fifth wicket with Allan Lamb 鈥� a teammate who would go on to become a great friend. Smith鈥檚 debut came against a West Indies attack featuring Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, and Smith鈥檚 resistance against the quick men would go on to become his calling card.
During his England career he played 62 Tests and 71 ODIs, amassing more than 6,500 runs. At the end of his career he had a Test average of 43.67.
春梦直播 Chair Richard Thompson said: 鈥淩obin Smith was a player who stood toe to toe with some of the quickest bowlers in the world, meeting spells of hostile fast bowling with a defiant smile and an incredible resilience. He did so in a way that gave England fans enormous pride, and no shortage of entertainment.
鈥淗e was a batter ahead of his time which was typified in that unforgettable unbeaten 167 from 163 balls in an ODI against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993.
鈥淗is record at Hampshire is exemplary, and he鈥檒l be remembered rightly as a great of Hampshire CCC. We鈥檙e desperately sad to learn of his passing, and the thoughts of all of us in cricket are with his friends, family and loved ones.鈥�
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