Cricket Mourns Robin Smith: Tributes Flow After England Legend Dies At 62

The global cricket community is in mourning after the death of former England batter Robin Smith, a player remembered as much for his courage at the crease as for his charisma off it. Smith, who was born in South Africa and became a fan favourite in England, died suddenly on Monday at his home in South Perth. He was 62.

His family confirmed the news in a heartfelt statement shared by Hampshire Cricket, describing him as a beloved father, brother and friend. The cause of death has not yet been determined, with a postmortem to follow.

A South African Boy Who Became An English Icon

For many South Africans, Robin Smith represented one of the great what-ifs of the apartheid sporting era. Unable to play for his birth country at international level, he moved into the English system, where he built a career that would make him one of their most respected batters of the 1990s.

Between 1988 and 1996 he played 62 Tests, piling up more than 4 200 runs at an average that modern selectors would envy. In white-ball cricket he was just as tough, adding more than 2 400 ODI runs. His style was old school grit paired with unexpected flair. Fast bowling did not scare him. In fact, many fans felt he relished it.

A Player Who Inspired Both Sides Of The Hemisphere

Smith’s death has struck a powerful chord online, especially among older Proteas fans who grew up watching him shine in another country’s colours. Social media is filled with memories of his fearless pull shots, his trademark grin after taking a blow to the body, and that iconic unbeaten 167 against Australia in 1993.

Cricket Twitter has been buzzing with tributes. One former Hampshire supporter wrote: “He made you believe the impossible shot was always on. Absolute legend.” Another fan commented: “South African by birth, English by cap, but loved everywhere cricket is played.”

Revered At Hampshire, Admired Worldwide

At Hampshire, where he spent most of his professional career, Smith is considered royalty. Club chairman Rod Bransgrove described him as perhaps the greatest Hampshire player of all time, praising his control, power and unmatched bravery against ferocious pace attacks.

Richard Thompson of the England and Wales Cricket Board echoed that sentiment, celebrating Smith’s ability to face the world’s fastest bowlers with a smile that disarmed even his opponents.

His nickname, The Judge, says everything about how he was viewed: authoritative, unshakeable and unforgettable.

A Complex Story Beyond The Boundary

Though Smith retired in 2004, his life after cricket was not without hardship. He spoke openly about his struggles with alcohol and mental health, becoming part of a necessary conversation that later generations of athletes have benefited from. His family has urged the public not to link those battles to speculation about his death.

A Lasting Legacy

Just weeks before his sudden passing, Smith had met the England Lions squad in Perth during their Ashes preparations. Younger players were reportedly enthralled by his stories and struck by his humility, proving that even long after retiring, he still had the ability to inspire.

For fans in South Africa, England and beyond, Robin Smith leaves behind far more than statistics. He leaves memories of a batter who stood tall when the world’s fastest bowlers charged in, a player who fought fiercely, entertained generously and lived with sincerity.

The Judge has left the field, but the applause will echo for a long time.

{Source:The Citizen}

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