Former England cricketer and Hampshire captain Robin Smith died suddenly on Monday at his home in Perth. He was 62 years old. Tributes have been pouring in from former teammates, cricket fans, and cricket boards worldwide due to his demise. Known for his fearless batting against fast bowling and his decorated county career, Smith’s death marked the loss of one of England’s most elegant and resilient batters.
Who was Robin Smith?
Robin Arnold Smith was born in Durban, South Africa, in 1963, and he played for England in 62 Test matches and 71 ODIs from 1988 through 1996. Renowned for a trademark square cut and composure against pace bowling, he scored 4,236 Test runs at an average of 43.67, including nine centuries. Smith also had a long career with Hampshire, for whom he captained from 1998 to 2002 and secured many domestic titles. He was a member of England’s 1992 World Cup squad and remained a respected figure in cricket circles for his skill and sportsmanship.
Robin Smith Stats
Test Matches: 62 – Smith made 4,236 runs at an average of 43.67 with nine centuries and 28 fifties. His highest Test score was 175 against the West Indies in 1994.
One-Day Internationals (ODIs): 71 — He compiled 2,419 runs at an average of 39.01, with a top score of 167 not out.
First-Class Career: During a long domestic career-mostly for Hampshire County Cricket Club-Smith scored 26,155 first-class runs, including 61 centuries, placing him as one of the most prolific run scorers in county cricket during his era.
Beyond just raw numbers, Smith was known for his signature strength, the square cut and a cool yet aggressive manner of facing pace bowling. Even when his national side was under pressure, Smith often stood out as one of England’s most dependable batsmen.
Robin Smith 167
One of Smith’s most iconic innings came in a One-Day International against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993, when he blasted an unbeaten 167 not out off 163 balls. That knock, studded with 17 fours and 3 sixes, came when England had slumped to 105/4, rescuing the innings and helping his side to a competitive total of 277/5 in 55 overs.
Although England lost the match, Smith’s 167* remained the highest individual ODI score for an England batsman for 23 years until it was finally overtaken by Alex Hales (171 in 2016).
His 167* remains one of the most memorable innings in England’s ODI history: fearless, technically sound, and played in adverse conditions against a strong Australian bowling attack. It defined Smith’s ability to dominate limited-overs cricket long before the advent of T20s and modern batting aggression.
Robin Smith Cricketer’s Illness
After retirement, Robin Smith publicly fought alcoholism and mental health problems, including a near-lethal battle with alcohol. He spent months in rehabilitation and called for awareness of mental health issues in athletes.
Robin Smith Book
The Judge documents the highs and lows of Smith’s career and personal struggles with mental health and addiction, giving a frank reflection of what life as an elite cricketer entails.
Robin Smith Children
Robin Smith had two children, a son named Harrison and a daughter Margaux.
