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England's unsung Test wall Robin Smith passes away unexpectedly at 62 in Perth

Akshita Patel

Robin Smith dies in Perth [Source: @hantscricket/X.com]Robin Smith dies in Perth [Source: @hantscricket/X.com]

Robin Smith, one of England’s most fearless and technically sound batters of the late 1980s and 1990s, has passed away at the age of 62 in Australia. The news was confirmed by ex-cricketer Kevan James.

In recent years, Smith openly spoke about his struggles with depression and alcoholism. 

In a brave interview just days before his passing, he admitted how difficult life had been after retirement, revealing that doctors had once warned his family he had only days to live due to years of alcohol abuse. 

Robin Smith leaves behind an unmatched legacy

Although he recovered for a time and began speaking about mental health, the battle proved to be a long and painful one. 

Robin Smith was recently seen in Perth during the first Ashes Test, where he delivered an emotional talk on mental health that deeply moved players and fans.

However, the ex-cricketer has sadly passed away at 62 at his residence in Perth. The cause of his death is yet to be made public. His family did release a short statement confirming the news but didn’t reveal any more details.

Born in Durban, South Africa, Robin Smith went on to represent England in 62 Test matches and 71 ODIs between 1988 and 1996. 

At a time when the West Indies were armed with a terrifying quartet of fast bowlers, Smith stood like a rock. 

His most memorable innings came in 1994 at Antigua, where he smashed a brilliant 175 against the fiery West Indies pace attack, an effort still remembered as one of the bravest innings by an England batter.

Smith’s remarkable Test numbers 

Across his Test career, Robin Smith amassed 4236 runs at an impressive average of 43.67, along with nine centuries.

These numbers still place him among England’s finest red-ball performers, with only a handful of modern greats like Joe Root and Harry Brook surpassing his average. 

Yet, despite such consistency, he was controversially dropped in the mid-1990s while still averaging over 40. 

At the domestic level, Robin Smith was an icon for Hampshire. He spent over 20 years with the county and later captained them from 1998 to 2002. 

He was also a key member of their trophy-winning squads in the Benson & Hedges Cup (1988, 1992) and the NatWest Trophy (1991).