Robin Smith RIP

clive

Former England batsman Robin Smith has died at the age of 62.

Nicknamed 'Judge', Smith played 62 Tests between 1988 and 1996, scoring 4,236 runs at an average 43.67, including nine centuries.

He averaged 39.01 in 71 one-day internationals.

Born in South Africa, Smith spent his entire county career at Hampshire, making his final appearance in August 2003.

He scored 26,155 first-class runs at 41.51 in a 22-year career.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c33mzp4mxe8o

soapy_jones

RIP

killerandflash

RIP. Very sad to hear about his recent struggles.

A top player of fast bowling, 1333 runs @ 44 against a fearsome West Indies attack.

Fortune 82nd Minute

Unbelievable.

There was a big article on him only last Sunday in the Sunday Times sports section. Clearly he had had a lot of personal issues since retiring.

I hope you are now at peace. RIP

golfaddick

Took on the fast ball like he was swatting flies.

RIP.

Simonsen

This is a bit of a shock.

Before my time at the club, Robin Smith had a season for Ickenham CC at the age of 17. He was freshly over from South Africa and playing for Hampshire 2nd XI and was brought to Ickenham by fellow Hampshire batsman, Richard Hayward (and also an Ickenham player). Apparently, it was clear to those that saw him that season, that Robin was destined for big things on the cricket field. 

About 15 years ago, we held a benefit night for Robin at the club and he was fantastic, both in terms of his story-telling but also his geniality. He was class that night and I've never met anyone with a bad word to say about him. 

robinofottershaw

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

Unbelievable.

There was a big article on him only last Sunday in the Sunday Times sports section. Clearly he had had a lot of personal issues since retiring.

I hope you are now at peace. RIP

Yes, I hadn’t got around to reading the Sunday Times sports section until this morning and read that article covering his personal issues. Lived in Perth and caught up with several of his old team mates such as Gooch, Gower and Lamb who were all over for the recent test match. Flintoff asked him to speak with his Lions squad after hearing about a very frank and personal interview Smith had with Brad Hogg at a function in Perth. 

Chizz

RIP Judge

JohnBoyUK

Loved watching his square cut back in the day.  Give him any sort of width and it was at the boundary like a tracer bullet.

RIP Robin.

Pedro45

A lovely man and very sad news.

I saw his debut at the Oval in '88 vs WI, and he smashed one fantastic boundary (just short of a six) right towards where I was sitting. I was at the Colombo test in '93 where he scored a ton on the first day opening the batting; people said he couldn't play spin but he did OK that day! Walking off, 106 not out, he was just a ball of sweat.

In '92, at the World Cup, he played a crucial role when Allan Lamb was injured. He shouldn't have been dropped for the final (Lamb was fit but hadn't played much in a month), but was excellent throughout that tournament. It was said that he was the fastest of England's fielders, and proved it at the MCG in a footrace to a ball hit toward the boundary by trouncing Chris Lewis (no mean slouch!) over 50 yards to get the ball first.

RIP Judgey.

msomerton

So sad to hear about his struggles with life after cricket, was so unaware of his troubles. It is very sad to see how such a sizeable portion of cricketers struggle with retirement.
He was a stalwart of our test team, at a time when it faced so many fearsome bowling attacks.
Also a top county cricketer. Condolences to his family and friends.

Algarveaddick

Another cricketer who appears to have struggled after his sporting career was over. So sad. RIP Judge. 

killerandflash

robinofottershaw said:

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

Unbelievable.

There was a big article on him only last Sunday in the Sunday Times sports section. Clearly he had had a lot of personal issues since retiring.

I hope you are now at peace. RIP

Yes, I hadn’t got around to reading the Sunday Times sports section until this morning and read that article covering his personal issues. Lived in Perth and caught up with several of his old team mates such as Gooch, Gower and Lamb who were all over for the recent test match. Flintoff asked him to speak with his Lions squad after hearing about a very frank and personal interview Smith had with Brad Hogg at a function in Perth. 

Just read that as well. A very sad story. 

Covered End

Terrible news.
Way too young.
RIP Robin and thanks for the memories.

Lincsaddick

Was only reading his interview with Simon Wilde in the Sunday Times on Sunday.
His life after cricket had been pretty much a disaster.
I just saw him play the once in a one day game at Scarborough a long time ago. He played one of the best shots I had ever seen seen, a back foot on drive that went to the boundary like the proverbial bullet. The crowd gave a collective gasp in awe

Very sad to die so comparatively young .. R I P Robin

Tutt-Tutt

I was at the 1988 test match at the Oval against the West Indies, when the crowd was 50/50, and a great atmosphere. I had a Surrey membership which included the test in those days, and watched from the Nets Stand, which was always unreserved seating for members, so I was able to see all four days. Robin Smith came in at second wicket down and electrified the atmosphere by hooking and pulling short balls from Marshall, Ambrose and Walsh, going on the attack where other batsman were on the defensive. Excellent batsman against fast bowling who often took on the opposition  and  changed the tempo of an innings. RIP.

HastingsRed

RIP great batsman very good test average.

AllHailTheHen

A mate of mine who played a bit of cricket bowled an over at Robin Smith at a charity match. Went for 36. 

Always enjoyed watching him play for England. RIP

Starinnaddick

RIP

Diebythesword

Might be unfair to say, but I feel like the England selectors at the time have some questions to answer on safeguarding with the likes of smith who they treated disgracefully and he claims had a serious impact on him. He wasn’t the only one they handled awfully either.

RIP, I hope he’s at peace now. 

BarnehurstBob

Brilliant article in the Sunday Times. Sadly prophetic. RIP Sir

alan dugdale

Very sad, great batsman. Remember watching that ODI 167 in awe many years ago.
RIP.

kinveachyaddick

RIP the Judge.

Great player to watch - his ability square of the wicket was second to none.

Simonsen

AllHailTheHen said:

A mate of mine who played a bit of cricket bowled an over at Robin Smith at a charity match. Went for 36. 

Always enjoyed watching him play for England. RIP

That's a good claim to fame and I have no doubt Robin Smith did it with a bit of fun in mind. 

Your mate shouldn't worry though....Smith was class. I was once stuck into the Trent Bridge Arms by Mike Bore. In a 20 year career, he amassed a first-class batting average of 8.