Former England batter Robin Smith has died at the age of 62 in Australia. The news was announced on Tuesday by his former teammate Kevan James and confirmed by Hampshire County Cricket Club. Smith, who lived in Australia, passed away unexpectedly on Monday.
Smith, born in Durban, South Africa, represented England in 62 Test matches and 71 One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1988 and 1996. A right-handed batsman, he was known for his courageous approach, particularly against fast bowling, and his signature square cut shot. He amassed 4,236 Test runs at an average of 43.67, including nine centuries. His highest Test score was a memorable 175 against the West Indies in Antigua in 1994. In ODIs, Smith played in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, where England finished as runner-up. He also scored an unforgettable 167 not out against Australia in 1993, which remained England's highest individual ODI score for over two decades.
His family released a statement through Hampshire Cricket, expressing their sadness and loss. "It is with the deepest and most profound sense of sadness and loss that we must announce the passing of Robin Arnold Smith, beloved father of Harrison and Margaux and cherished brother of Christopher,” the statement read. They also noted that he "died unexpectedly at his South Perth apartment on Monday 1st December" and that the cause of death is currently unknown.
Smith's career with Hampshire spanned over two decades (1982–2003), during which he also served as captain from 1998 to 2002. Under his leadership, Hampshire secured major domestic titles, including the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1988 and 1992, and the NatWest Trophy in 1991. Rod Bransgrove, the chairman of Hampshire, hailed Smith as one of the greatest Hampshire cricket heroes of all time, praising his "awesome power and control" and his courage against fast bowling.
In recent years, Smith had been open about his struggles with alcoholism and mental health issues. He admitted to suffering from depression and alcohol dependency in retirement. His family requested that these struggles "should not form the basis of speculation about the cause of death which will be determined at postmortem investigation".
Tributes have poured in from fans and fellow cricketers, with many recalling fond memories of watching him play. One fan wrote of Smith's 1993 innings against Australia as "the greatest ever ODI innings," while another described him as "a true Hampshire great loved by all". Kevan James tearfully spoke of Smith's death, stating that "At the time, in the 80s and 90s, he was England's best batter".
Only last month, Smith had spent time with the England Lions squad in Perth at the invitation of coach Andrew Flintoff. He spoke to the players shortly before the first Ashes Test.
