Cricket Mourns England Batting Great, Aged 62.

In the age before the frenetic T20 era, arguably nobody hit the cricket ball with greater ferocity as Robin Smith. Built with the physique of a fighter but possessing the agile movement from his mother, a dancer, he produced shots – the square cut in particular – with such violence that they left dents in advertising boards and shattered the hopes of the opposition.

Smith has passed away after a prolonged illness, existed of profound contradictions. To the public eye, he appeared the embodiment of fearless, attacking batsmanship, famed for thrilling battles against express pace. But behind this facade of bravado was a person plagued by self-doubt, a battle he masked throughout his career only to later led to struggles against addiction and mental health issues.

Unflinching Guts and a Thirst for Danger

His courage facing quick bowlers was utterly authentic. The motivation, however, involved a combination of innate toughness and a self-confessed addiction to adrenaline. He seemed was built differently, actively craving the punishing challenge of confronting express bowling, which demanded blistering reactions and an ability to absorb blows.

This was perfectly illustrated during an iconic innings of 148 not out for England facing the Caribbean pace attack at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1991. On a tricky surface, as a pair of legendary pacemen, he did not merely endure but counter-attacked with gusto, relishing the brutal exchange of bouncers and boundaries. In retrospect, he said the feeling was one of “tingling”.

An Impressive Test Career

Batting primarily at number five or six, Smith played for England in 62 Test matches and 71 ODIs between 1988 and 1996. He scored over four thousand Test runs with a mean of 43.67, which contained nine three-figure scores. In the 50-over format, he made 2,419 ODI runs averaging nearing forty.

A particularly brutal innings occurred in 1993 in Birmingham against Australia, where he smashed 167 ruthless runs. The display was so impressive that he was reportedly commendations from the country's leader. However, in a frustrating pattern, England could not secure victory the game.

The 'Judge' and a Troubled Soul

Known widely as ‘the Judge’ after a wig-like haircut that looked like a judge's wig, his batting average in Tests stands as commendable, especially considering he played during a period of English struggle. Many believe he was discarded somewhat unfairly post a fractious series of South Africa in 1995-96.

In his own words, he felt like two people: ‘the Judge’, the ruthless on-field warrior who lived for conflict, and the man himself, a vulnerable person. Each persona fought for dominance.

His staunch allegiance sometimes caused him problems. One well-known episode saw him defend teammate Malcolm Marshall following racist slurs in Leicester. After words failed, he punched the main aggressor, a move which fractured his hand causing a significant layoff.

Life After Cricket

The transition to life after professional sport became a huge struggle. The buzz of the game was substituted for the ordinary pressures of commerce. Attempts at bat manufacturing eventually failed. Compounded by problems in his marriage and mounting debts, he descended into alcohol dependency and deep depression.

A move to Australia accompanied by his brother Chris offered a fresh start but couldn't resolve his underlying issues. In a moment of deep crisis, he contemplated suicide, before being talked back from the brink through the care of family and a neighbour.

His family includes his companion, Karin, his son and daughter, and brother Chris.