Cricket is mourning the death of former England batsman Robin Smith at the age of 62, only a week after he spoke to Andrew Flintoff's Lions team at Lilac Hill near his home in Perth.
Smith, born in Durban, had made Western Australia his home more than 20 years ago, after retiring from first-class cricket with more than 26,000 first-class runs to his name, and 61 hundreds – 49 of them for Hampshire.
But it was as a powerful middle-order batsman for his adopted England that he made his name, playing 62 Tests between his debut in 1988 and his final game, in his native South Africa in January 1996, and averaging 43 during a difficult period for the Test team. For sheer ferocity, his square-cut may never have been surpassed.
His unbeaten 167 in a one-day international against Australia at Edgbaston was among England's greatest limited-overs innings.
But the England management never fully appreciated his talents, nor acknowledged his fragility. For all his gifts, Smith lacked self-belief, an affliction he carried with him until the end.
Amid struggles in his personal life, he twice came close to committing suicide, and admitted in an interview last week with Daily Mail Sport that he spent 12 years drinking a bottle of vodka a day.
Former England cricketer Robin Smith has sadly passed away at the age of 62
The Judge, as he was known during his playing days, made 62 Test Match appearances for his country
Smith was invited by Andrew Flintoff to speak to the England Lions in Perth less than two weeks ago
More recently, his partner of 17 years, Karin, had been undergoing emergency stem-cell treatment in Europe after a late diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
But he remained upbeat, meeting old friends and team-mates during the first Ashes Test at Perth, and looking forward to watching the Brisbane game on TV at home. Now, suddenly, he is gone.
Smith's former team-mate at Hampshire, Kevan James, made the 'horrible' announcement on Solent News shortly after 9am this morning. The Judge passed away at his Perth apartment on Monday.
His family later confirmed his passing with a heartfelt statement reading: '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.
'Robin died unexpectedly at his South Perth apartment on Monday 1st December. The cause of his death is at present unknown.
'Robin known widely as "The Judge" was originally born in South Africa in 1963 to parents John and Joy and is the younger brother to Christopher (Kippy) Smith. Robin rose to fame as one of England's most charismatic and popular players. A brave and dashing batsman, he excelled both for Hampshire and his adopted country collecting legions of admirers and friends along the way.
'Since his retirement from the game in 2004 his battles with alcohol and mental health have been well documented but these should not form the basis of speculation about the cause of death which will be determined at postmortem investigation.
'This is an immensely difficult period for us all whilst we try to come to terms with our bereavement, and we would therefore much appreciate consideration for our privacy by media and cricket followers alike. From Robin's loving family.'
During an eight-year career, Smith made 62 appearances and averaged an impressive 43
The South African-born star had caught up with old friends Graham Gooch (left) and Allan Lamb (right) only last week at the Ashes
His unbeaten 167 in a one-day international against Australia at Edgbaston was among England's greatest limited-overs innings
Smith was in attendance at the first Ashes Test at the Optus Stadium in his home city of Perth only last week, where he caught up with old friends and team-mates Graham Gooch and David Gower.
Opening up about his struggles with mental health in an interview with Daily Mail Sport, the South-African born batsman revealed his mental health began to deteriorate when he was dropped from the England squad in 1996.
'If I'm going to be really honest, yeah (it did deteriorate then),' he admitted.
Smith played during an era of heavy drinking and struggled with alcoholism after his retirement.
Only last year, he had a brush up with death when he spent seven months in hospital battling cirrhosis of the liver after spending more than a decade drinking a bottle of vodka a day.
'My brother Chris and son Harrison were called in by doctors and told I had a five per cent chance of walking out. So it's amazing that I'm here talking to you,' he said.
'Drinking a bottle of vodka a day for 12 years obviously didn't do the liver much good, but I went on a strict diet, and I've got to be really careful.'
The maverick was given the nickname 'Judgie' as a youngster - because of his crinkly hair resembling a lawyer's wig - which stuck with him until his death.
However Smith admitted that he was often living up to a persona, both during and after his playing days.
'It was always really difficult, because people know Judgie as Judgie, and I'm Robin. Robin Smith,' the international cricketer said.
Smith pictured facing Curtley Ambrose at The Oval in South London in the summer of 1991
'I have always been very quiet, reserved, shy. I speak a little bit now publicly about mental health, and I was very, very close twice, within minutes, of finishing my life.
'I wish I'd spoken to my friends. I didn't want to burden them with my problems, but I should have reached out to them. Anyone who thinks they might be a burden on their friends, they're absolutely not. You've just got to be open and be yourself. And now I'm Robin, back being shy.'
More recently, his partner of 17 years, Karin, had been undergoing emergency stem-cell treatment in Switzerland after a late diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
'They said she's only got a 60 per cent chance of coming home. It's a 20 per cent chance of her getting better, and 30 per cent chance of her just levelling out,' he said of Karin's illness.
'She used to be a great dancer but she's in a wheelchair now, and the other weekend I took her to the Windsor Hotel in south Perth, and we listened to our music and I spun her around in the wheelchair.'
Smith also dealt with the death of his parents in the years before his passing. His mother passed away during the Covid pandemic while his father, who he called his 'best buddy', died just four months ago.
A host of sporting figures paid tribute to Smith after news of his passing broke this morning, with former Hampshire Cricket Chairman Rob Bransgrove OBE describing him as 'one of the greatest' batsmen to ever play for the county.
Smith made more than 26,000 first-class runs, winning the Benson and Hedges Cups in 1998 and 1992 and the Natwest Trophy in 1911.
Bransgrove said: 'He was a batsman of awesome power and control and amongst the most courageous players this club has ever seen - especially against bowling of real pace.
'But more than all of that, Robin embodied the spirit of Hampshire. He loved playing for his county and rushed back from many of his 62 Test Matches and 71 ODIs to join his county team to play Championship or List 'A' fixtures with relish.
'More than anything, The Judge connected with everyone he came into contact with.
'He was one of the most popular players ever to play the game we all love, and he will be hugely missed by players, members, staff and supporters - not only in Hampshire, but throughout the country and beyond.
Smith made 71 one-day international appearances for England and averaged 39 with the bat
'Finally, Robin was one of my closest personal friends. My family and I are all devastated by his loss.'
While Kevan James, who announced news of Smith's passing on the radio, said: 'Oh gosh it's been horrible. Unfortunately it was happening as I was reading out some of the sports news.
'He was a super player particularly of fast bowling in an era when the West indies had all these quick bowlers.
'He was one of the few England batters who stood up to them and basically gave them as good as he got.
'He has not been great for a very long time but there was a big spread of him in the paper last week because he lived in Perth and the England team have been over in Perth.
'I read it last week and it was about how he was a lot better than he was. He was never going to get back to how he was but he was better.
'I think I read he drank a bottle of vodka a day. I mean, I knew he drunk a lot but I didn't realise it was that bad.
'This news overnight has been a bit of a shock. At this point more than any other in the last seven, eight, nine years he seemed to be at a better point in his life.
'Although overall it's not (a shock). When you have been with a teammate and experienced highs and lows for that length of time.
'When I first joined Hampshire he was well-known for having this red sports car - driving around Southampton he loved going to the Concorde.'
While former England fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom simply posted on X: 'RIP Robin Smith what a batsman and bloke.'
