ENGLAND cricket icon Robin Smith has died aged 62.
The legendary batsman passed away overnight in Australia, just days after opening up on his struggles with alcoholism and mental health.
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The ex-Hampshire batsman passed away overnight in AustraliaCredit: Reuters
Smith played 62 test matches for EnglandCredit: Reuters
Smith poses alongside Aussie star Shane WarneCredit: AFP
James, a former Hampshire teammate and close pal of Smith, broke down in tears as he announced the news on BBC Radio Solent.
Speaking this morning, Kevin said: “It’s been horrible. It was happening as I was reading out some sports news.
“It’s a sad day, but when you look at someone’s career… At the time, in the 80s and 90s, he was England’s best batter.”
“He averaged 43 in Test matches and he averaged over 40 when he was dropped after the mid-nineties Test series in South Africa…
“… which is quite incredible now, isn’t it, to think a batter would be dropped averaging that many.
“He was a super player, particularly of fast bowling in an era where the West Indies had all these fast bowlers.
“He was one of the few England batters who stood up to them and basically gave as good as he got.”
Smith played 62 test matches for England and finished his international career in 1996.
James also spoke about the cricket icon’s bizarre nickname, ‘The Judge’.
He added: “His hair was combed back and curly like a judge’s wig.
“It was weird, the first time I came across him was before I joined Hampshire.
“This was early 80s and Robin had just arrived from South Africa.
“I got introduced to him by this person who said ‘you will hear a lot more about this bloke, he’s England’s next best thing’.
“Actually, he really was. Even then, the first thing I noticed when I was shaking his hand was, ‘he looks like a judge’.”
Only last week, Smith spoke out about his battles with alcoholism and mental health struggles.
The England cricket hero opened up on his near-death experience.
A mere eighteen months ago, Smith’s friends and family were told that he may only have two days to live.
Years of alcohol abuse, which was exacerbated by depression, ruined his body to the point that doctors told his loved ones he was close to death.
Severely ravaged organs saw Smith, who played all formats of cricket for England, hospitalised for four months.
After being forced to leave the hospital to make way for a new patient, Smith underwent a painstaking rehab.
This included learning how to walk away, with the help of his son Harrison and Karin, his wife of 17 years.
Karin had recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was undergoing emergency stem-cell treatment.
He was back on his feet six months later and eventually move into a house of his own.
He candidly admitted: “I thought I had fully recovered.
“Then having seen dad in the state he was, and living on my own, I got back into my… well, you know, once an alcoholic always an alcoholic.
“You always battle to keep away from it. It’s not difficult to go back on the alcohol.”
Smith was a mainstay of the England line-up through the late 1980s and 1990sCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
His record proved himself to be a true legend of the county gameCredit: Refer to source
Smith finished his international career in 1996Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Smith recently caught up with some former England team-mates before, during and after the first Ashes Test in Perth.
Recalling his interaction with his pals in an interview with The Times, he said: “‘Jeez, Judgie,’ they’re saying, ‘You’re back from the dead.’”
He added: “Everyone is keen to see Lazarus.”
Smith was a mainstay of the England line-up through the late 1980s and 1990s, racking up 62 Test caps to go with 71 ODIs.
The batter averaged an impressive 43.67 with the bat in Tests – a tally topped only by Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith.
At the time of being dropped in 1996, he still boasted the highest Test average of any contemporary England batter.
The South Africa-born ace notched nine centuries – with a top score of 175 – to go with 28 50s as he racked up a superb 4,236 Test runs.
In First-Class cricket, Smith amassed a barely-believable 26,155 runs with a top score of 209 not out.
His record proved himself to be a true legend of the county game.
Fearless against fast bowlers, his ability to play the cut shot made him unplayable at times.
His sole weakness came against spin bowlers – and it’s widely believed England could, and perhaps should, have got more out of him.
Only last week, Smith spoke out about his battles with alcoholismCredit: Shutterstock
