Former England cricketer Robin Smith died on Monday at his home in Perth aged 62. His departure was confirmed by Hampshire County Cricket Club on Tuesday and announced publicly by former team-mate Kevan James. The England and Wales Cricket Board said the cause of death was “currently unknown”.
Born in South Africa, Smith represented England in 62 Tests and 71 ODIS between 1988 and 1996. Known for his signature square cut and composure against fast bowling, he amassed 4,236 Test runs at an average of 43.67, including nine centuries. His highest Test score – a gutsy 175 against a formidable West Indies attack at Antigua in 1994 – remains one of the defining innings of his career.
He also excelled in ODIs, with a memorable 167 not out against Australia in 1993, a record which was England’s highest individual score for more than two decades.
“It was terrible. It’s a sad day,” James said.
“At that time, in the 1980s and 1990s, he was England’s best batsman. He was a great player, especially fast bowling in an era when the West Indies had all these fast bowlers. He was one of the few English batsmen who stood up to them and basically bowled as well as they could.”
Only last month the former England Lions all-rounder and coach invited Robin Smith to speak to the players during their intramural training match at Lilac Hill. Smith spoke to the England Lions and England players for more than an hour days before the first Ashes Test, according to The Independent.
Smith was considered one of the best English batsmen of his era. The classy batsman was part of the 1992 World Cup team that reached the final and finished runners-up after losing to Pakistan.
In addition to international cricket, Smith enjoyed a long and distinguished spell at Hampshire, representing the club for over two decades (1982–2003) and managing the club between 1998 and 2002. Under his leadership, Hampshire won major domestic titles, including the Benson & Hedges Cup and the NatWest Trophy.
THE FIGHT WITH ALCOHOLISM
In recent years, Smith has been open about his struggles with alcoholism and mental health issues. Admitting that he suffered from depression and alcohol addiction in retirement, he revealed that the fight had taken a toll on his health.
Despite these difficulties, he remained a respected figure in cricket — admired for his honesty and bravery, both on and off the field. Former teammates and fans remember him not only for his ferocious batting especially against fast bowling, but also for his humility and the warmth with which he connected with people.
The announcement of Smith’s death sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the cricketing world. He was remembered by many as one of the most elegant and daring batsmen of his time, someone who thrived on pace and pressure.
In a statement, Hampshire Cricket said: “Robin Smith was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Hampshire heroes of all time. A brave and spirited batsman who will be sorely missed by our players, members, staff and supporters – not only in Hampshire but across the country and beyond.”
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
December 2, 2025
