RIP Robin Smith

[flibbertyjibber]

In shock. Only 62. One of my all time favourites, what a brutal square cut he had.

 

[Molehill]

There was an interview with him doing the rounds just last week. Sadly, a victim of alcohol, was at one point drinking a bottle of vodka a day.

One of the few players who properly stood up to the W Indies battery.

RIP The Judge

 

[the big bambino]

Oh no. Oh that is so so sad.

 

[mr_mister]

RIP. Seemed like a good bloke.

Surprised Hick, Crawley and Ramprakash kept getting picked over him from 1996 onwards.

 

[manoftommorow]

One of those whose international career was completely ruined by the sheer incompetence of England’s selectors at the time. RIP.

 

[mr_mister]

One of those whose international career was completely ruined by the sheer incompetence of England’s selectors at the time. RIP.

Yeah, he averaged higher than every single other 90s peer in the English batting order except for Thorpe. Had Gooch, Stewart and Atherton covered

 

[ImpatientLime]

one of my childhood heroes. an absolutely fearless player of pace. gone too soon.

 

[chris.hinton]

RIP Robin

 

[ImpatientLime]

thorpey and now judge in just over a year. i'm too young for my childhood idols to be departing us. growing old is ****.

 

[SeamUp]

RIP.

His dream was to play for Natal with his boyhood heroes Barry Richards, Mike Procter and Vince Vd Bijl and he did (his 3rd FC game for Natal Barry joined the other 2). He then went on to be ranked #2 batsman in the world eventually. Not bad.



Sadly another legend on this scorecard Denys Hobson passed away a few days ago too.

 

[kevinw]

Averaging 43 during one of England's worst cricketing eras, with idiots for selectors, is remarkable really. And an excellent ODI batter too! Averaging 44 against those West Indian bowlers and still pretty much 40 against Australia despite a supposed weakness against spin. In fact, he was pretty consistent against all opponents (34 in 9 Tests vs NZ is his "worst" record). Poor guy had his demons, RIP, Judge.

 

[social]

Played against him a few times and he was a nice, quiet guy

Not your typical South African of the time

Such a shame RIP

 

[SeamUp]

Wish I got to see him live to hear the regular gunshots off his bat.

 

[zaremba]

Awful news. One of my favourite players.

"A square cut like the crack of doom" as Wisden put it. So good against fast bowling, but part of what made it such a spectacle was that it was often a struggle and we lived through it with him and we loved his successes.

And his 167* v Australia in 1993 was just about my favourite innings of all time.

 

[WICFan]

He was my favourite batsman from my childhood, sad news.

 

[Burgey]

Gee this is such sad news. Really sorry to hear this. Was a fine player. Played pace brilliantly in an era largely dominated by it. Always remember that 160 odd in a 93 ODI against our blokes. Exemplified the age he played in that it was in a losing side.

I hadn't realised he’d relocated to Australia after he retired, or that he had MH and alcohol-related issues. For some reason I actually feel strangely guilty I was so oblivious.

Loved watching him play.

And had forearms of the gods too.

 

[bagapath]

That is so sad... Condolences to his family and friends.

Too many international cricketers have died under 65 in the last few years: Warne, Thorpe, Symonds, Crowe, Streak, Qadir, Jones, Greig (66), Hughes and now Smith.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Was my favourite England player as a bairn. Gutsy, pugnacious batter. Never took a backward step.

Seemed one of nature's good guys too. Vale Judge.

 

[Ju7]

Gee this is such sad news. Really sorry to hear this. Was a fine player. Played pace brilliantly in an era largely dominated by it. Always remember that 160 odd in a 93 ODI against our blokes. Exemplified the age he played in that it was in a losing side.

I hadn't realised he’d relocated to Australia after he retired, or that he had MH and alcohol-related issues. For some reason I actually feel strangely guilty I was so oblivious.

Loved watching him play.

And had forearms of the gods too.

I listened to a podcast a few years ago about his life in Aus and his battles with booze/MH.
Sad news.

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

Very sad news. R.I.P