Robin Smith, former England cricketer and fearless 1990s batter known for taking on West Indies pacers, passes away at 62

Former England batter Robin Smith, who faced some of the fiercest fast bowlers of the 1980s and 1990s, passed away at his home in Perth, Australia, on Tuesday. He was 62.

Robin Smith's cricketing career

Smith played 62 Test matches between 1988 and 1996, scoring 4,236 runs at an average of 43.67, including nine centuries. But beyond the numbers, his contribution to English cricket during that era was even more significant.

Smith was especially fearless against the West Indies’ legendary pace attack, which included Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Malcolm Marshall, and Patrick Patterson.

Smith was known for his deadly square cut, considered one of the most intimidating shots in cricket history. At his peak between 1990 and 1995, he played a key role in England managing to draw back-to-back Test series against the West Indies.

England recorded a 2-2 series draw during their 1990-91 tour of the Caribbean and repeated the same 2-2 result four years later at home.

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ECB on Robin Smith's demise

“Robin Smith was a player who stood toe to toe with some of the quickest bowlers in the world, meeting spells of hostile fast bowling with a defiant smile and an incredible resilience. He did so in a way that gave England fans enormous pride, and no shortage of entertainment.

“He was a batter ahead of his time which was typified in that unforgettable unbeaten 167 from 163 balls in an ODI against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993.

“His record at Hampshire is exemplary, and he'll be remembered rightly as a great of Hampshire CCC. We're desperately sad to learn of his passing, and the thoughts of all of us in cricket are with his friends, family and loved ones” said England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chair Richard Thompson

However, Smith was born in Durban in 1963 and later moved to Hampshire, England, under the influence of fellow South Africans Barry Richards and Mike Procter.

He made his Test debut for England against the West Indies in 1988 at Headingley and formed a long association with fellow South African-origin cricketer Allan Lamb in the English middle-order.