Cricket Mourns Robin Smith, Who Has Died Aged 62.

Long before the dawn of the explosive Twenty20 era, few could match the leather with greater ferocity than Robin Smith. Shaped like a boxer yet endowed with the quick feet from his mother, a dancer, he unleashed strokes – the square cut in particular – with such violence they could dent in boundary hoardings and deflated the hopes of the opposition.

The cricketer's death comes after a prolonged illness, presented as a figure filled with stark contrasts. To the public eye, he appeared the embodiment of fearless, attacking batsmanship, renowned for thrilling battles with fearsome quicks. However, beneath this facade of bravado lay a person plagued by self-doubt, a conflict he concealed while on the field but which later contributed to struggles against alcoholism and depression.

Sheer Bravery Mixed with a Desire for Danger

His bravery versus fast bowling was utterly authentic. The motivation, however, was a complex blend of innate toughness and a self-confessed addiction to adrenaline. He seemed wired differently, seeking out the masochistic test of standing up to thunderbolts, which calls for instant responses and a willingness to suffer physical punishment.

This trait was never better displayed in his famous undefeated knock of 148 representing his country versus the mighty West Indies at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1991. In challenging conditions, facing the furious onslaught of two of the greatest fast bowlers in history, he did not merely endure he positively flourished, apparently delighting in the fierce contest of intimidation and strokeplay. In retrospect, he said that it left him feeling “buzzing”.

An Impressive International Career

Featuring mostly in the middle order, Smith represented England in 62 Test matches and 71 ODIs during an eight-year international span. He amassed more than four thousand runs in Tests with a mean of 43-plus, featuring nine three-figure scores. In ODI cricket, he gathered almost two and a half thousand runs averaging close to 40.

Perhaps his most ferocious knock came in 1993 against Australia against Australia, blasting a brutal 167 runs. The display was so impressive he earned personally congratulated PM John Major. Sadly, a recurring theme, England ended up losing that contest.

The Moniker and a Complex Legacy

Affectionately nicknamed ‘Judge’ because of a youthful haircut reminiscent of a court wig, Smith's Test average stands as commendable, especially considering his career spanned during a period of English struggle. Many believe his international career was ended somewhat unfairly post a fractious series of South Africa in the winter of 95/96.

As he later confessed, he existed as two people: ‘the Judge’, the tough, confrontational competitor who loved a fight, and Robin Smith, a vulnerable person. These two sides fought for dominance.

An unshakeable sense of loyalty sometimes caused him problems. In a notable incident saw him defend West Indian colleague Malcolm Marshall against racial taunts at a team hotel. After words failed, Smith knocked out the ringleader, 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 buzz of the game gave way to the ordinary pressures of business. Ventures into a travel company did not succeed. Coupled with a strained relationship and serious money troubles, he descended into heavy drinking and deep depression.

Relocating to Perth with his family offered a fresh start but failed to fix his personal demons. At his lowest point, he thought about taking his own life, only being pulled back from the edge by the support of his son and a compassionate neighbour.

His family includes his companion, Karin, Harrison and Margaux, and elder brother Chris.