TL;DR
- Former England cricketer Robin Smith has died unexpectedly at the age of 62, with the cause currently unknown, according to his family.
- Smith, affectionately known as “The Judge,” played 62 Test matches and was part of the England squad that reached the finals of the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
- Following his retirement in 2004, he faced challenges with mental health and alcohol addiction, but his legacy as a beloved player is widely celebrated.
Former England cricketer Robin Smith dies | UK News
Former England cricketer Robin Smith has died aged 62.
The batter, who was one of England’s most popular cricketers in the 90s, passed away “unexpectedly at his South Perth apartment” on Monday, his family said in a statement.
The cause of his death is at present unknown, his family added.
Smith played 62 Test matches for England, finishing his international career in 1996.
He was a part of the England squad which finished as runners-up at the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
Smith’s family said in a statement: “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.”
Smith, affectionately known as The Judge, played for Hampshire across a 21-year period between 1982-2003, captaining the county between 1998-2002.
His one-day international (ODI) top score of 167 not out, against Australia in 1993, stood as an England record for 23 years until Alex Hales scored 171 against Pakistan in 2016.
Smith averaged 43.67 in Test cricket, hitting 28 fifties and nine centuries, with his top score of 175 coming in 1994 against West Indies and their feared pace attack of that era.
Following the news, Rod Bransgrove OBE, the chairman of the Hampshire County Cricket Club, said: “Robin Smith is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of all time Hampshire Cricket heroes.
“He was a batsman of awesome power and control and amongst the most courageous players this club has ever seen – especially against bowling of real pace.”
Mr Bransgrove went on to say: “More than anything, The Judge connected with everyone he came into contact with.
“He was one of the most popular players ever to play the game we all love, and he will be hugely missed by players, members, staff and supporters – not only in Hampshire, but throughout the country and beyond.”
In the years since his retirement from cricket in 2004, Smith spoke of struggles with his mental health and addiction to alcohol.
England Cricket reacted to news of Smith’s death saying: “Everyone at the England & Wales Cricket Board is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Robin Smith.
“An England and Hampshire legend,” the post on X said.
Jack Russell, who played with Smith for England in the 90s, paid tribute to him on X saying he was “one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet”.
