🔗 Share this article Tributes Paid to The 'Judge', Aged 62. During the period preceding the frenetic Twenty20 format, few could match the cricket ball with greater ferocity than Robin Smith. Built with the physique of a fighter but possessing the nimble footwork from his mother, a dancer, he produced shots – notably his ferocious square cut – with such violence they could dent in perimeter fencing and deflated the morale of opponents. Smith has passed away after a lengthy battle with poor health, existed riddled with paradox. On the surface, he was the very image of courageous, aggressive batting, celebrated for memorable contests with the world's fastest bowlers. Yet, behind this show of machismo existed a man constantly questioning his own worth, a conflict he masked while on the field but which later fuelled battles with alcoholism and depression. Unflinching Guts Mixed with a Desire for Danger His fearlessness against pace could never be doubted. But the driving force, was a curious mix of pure grit and a confessed need for the rush. He seemed was neurologically unique, actively craving the masochistic test of facing extreme pace, which demanded blistering reactions and a high tolerance for pain. The ultimate demonstration came in his famous innings of 148 not out representing his country against the West Indies at Lord's in 1991. On a tricky surface, facing the furious onslaught of two of the greatest fast bowlers in history, Smith not only survived but counter-attacked with gusto, relishing the fierce contest of intimidation and strokeplay. He admitted afterwards the experience as leaving him “tingling”. An Impressive Test Career Batting primarily at number five or six, He earned caps for England across 62 Tests and 71 ODIs between 1988 and 1996. He accumulated more than four thousand runs in Tests with a mean of 43-plus, featuring nine centuries. In ODI cricket, he made almost two and a half thousand runs averaging close to 40. A particularly brutal innings came in 1993 at Edgbaston facing the Aussies, where he smashed a brutal 167 runs. It was such a domineering performance he earned direct praise from PM John Major. However, in a frustrating pattern, the side still failed to win that contest. The Moniker and a Complex Legacy Dubbed ‘Judge’ after a wig-like haircut reminiscent of a court wig, his mean in Test cricket stands as commendable, especially considering his career spanned for a frequently defeated England team. It is widely felt selectors moved on from him somewhat unfairly after a difficult tour in South Africa in 1995-96. He admitted in his autobiography, he was two distinct characters: ‘the Judge’, the tough, confrontational competitor who loved a fight, and Robin Smith, a sensitive, emotional man. The two identities fought for dominance. His fierce loyalty occasionally led to trouble. Most famously involved him standing up for fellow Hampshire player Malcolm Marshall following racist slurs in Leicester. Following unsuccessful appeals, he punched the main aggressor, an act that broke his own hand causing a significant layoff. Life After Cricket Adapting to a world after professional sport became a huge struggle. The buzz of the game was replaced by the routine demands of business. Businesses involving bat manufacturing did not succeed. Coupled with problems in his marriage and serious money troubles, he fell victim to addiction and profound despair. Emigrating to Western Australia with his family provided a new beginning but failed to fix his core problems. At his lowest point, he considered ending his life, and was only saved from the brink by the intervention of family and a neighbour. Robin Smith is survived by his partner, Karin, Harrison and Margaux, and his brother, Chris.
During the period preceding the frenetic Twenty20 format, few could match the cricket ball with greater ferocity than Robin Smith. Built with the physique of a fighter but possessing the nimble footwork from his mother, a dancer, he produced shots – notably his ferocious square cut – with such violence they could dent in perimeter fencing and deflated the morale of opponents. Smith has passed away after a lengthy battle with poor health, existed riddled with paradox. On the surface, he was the very image of courageous, aggressive batting, celebrated for memorable contests with the world's fastest bowlers. Yet, behind this show of machismo existed a man constantly questioning his own worth, a conflict he masked while on the field but which later fuelled battles with alcoholism and depression. Unflinching Guts Mixed with a Desire for Danger His fearlessness against pace could never be doubted. But the driving force, was a curious mix of pure grit and a confessed need for the rush. He seemed was neurologically unique, actively craving the masochistic test of facing extreme pace, which demanded blistering reactions and a high tolerance for pain. The ultimate demonstration came in his famous innings of 148 not out representing his country against the West Indies at Lord's in 1991. On a tricky surface, facing the furious onslaught of two of the greatest fast bowlers in history, Smith not only survived but counter-attacked with gusto, relishing the fierce contest of intimidation and strokeplay. He admitted afterwards the experience as leaving him “tingling”. An Impressive Test Career Batting primarily at number five or six, He earned caps for England across 62 Tests and 71 ODIs between 1988 and 1996. He accumulated more than four thousand runs in Tests with a mean of 43-plus, featuring nine centuries. In ODI cricket, he made almost two and a half thousand runs averaging close to 40. A particularly brutal innings came in 1993 at Edgbaston facing the Aussies, where he smashed a brutal 167 runs. It was such a domineering performance he earned direct praise from PM John Major. However, in a frustrating pattern, the side still failed to win that contest. The Moniker and a Complex Legacy Dubbed ‘Judge’ after a wig-like haircut reminiscent of a court wig, his mean in Test cricket stands as commendable, especially considering his career spanned for a frequently defeated England team. It is widely felt selectors moved on from him somewhat unfairly after a difficult tour in South Africa in 1995-96. He admitted in his autobiography, he was two distinct characters: ‘the Judge’, the tough, confrontational competitor who loved a fight, and Robin Smith, a sensitive, emotional man. The two identities fought for dominance. His fierce loyalty occasionally led to trouble. Most famously involved him standing up for fellow Hampshire player Malcolm Marshall following racist slurs in Leicester. Following unsuccessful appeals, he punched the main aggressor, an act that broke his own hand causing a significant layoff. Life After Cricket Adapting to a world after professional sport became a huge struggle. The buzz of the game was replaced by the routine demands of business. Businesses involving bat manufacturing did not succeed. Coupled with problems in his marriage and serious money troubles, he fell victim to addiction and profound despair. Emigrating to Western Australia with his family provided a new beginning but failed to fix his core problems. At his lowest point, he considered ending his life, and was only saved from the brink by the intervention of family and a neighbour. Robin Smith is survived by his partner, Karin, Harrison and Margaux, and his brother, Chris.