RIP ‘The Judge’ Robin Smith.

[PhatBoy]

Vale one of my favourite players from my formative years watching the game.
Announced this evening.
Was only in the news recently about his struggles with alcoholism and some attempts on his own life. I truly hope for the sake of himself and his loved ones that this is not how it ended for a player and man who by all reports was well loved by basically everyone who knew him despite his struggles.

Was just a ferocious player of fast bowling and to this day is probably in the top handful of toughest players I’ve ever watched. Had absolutely no fear and in the current days of big bats, restricted fields and full face helmets with roped in boundaries at every ground, he would have decimated some attacks if they tried the short ball stuff we see these days. Sadly he was very clumsy against good spin bowling and Warney had a few good days against him in 1993 from memory.

That was also the series or tour (not for England who hosted obviously) where he played that ridiculous ODI 167 against the Aussies and absolutely smoked them to all parts.

Very sad

 

[Rabish Binney]

Vale one of my favourite players from my formative years watching the game.
Announced this evening.
Was only in the news recently about his struggles with alcoholism and some attempts on his own life. I truly hope for the sake of himself and his loved ones that this is not how it ended for a player and man who by all reports was well loved by basically everyone who knew him despite his struggles.

Was just a ferocious player of fast bowling and to this day is probably in the top handful of toughest players I’ve ever watched. Had absolutely no fear and in the current days of big bats, restricted fields and full face helmets with roped in boundaries at every ground, he would have decimated some attacks if they tried the short ball stuff we see these days. Sadly he was very clumsy against good spin bowling and Warney had a few good days against him in 1993 from memory.

That was also the series or tour (not for England who hosted obviously) where he played that ridiculous ODI 167 against the Aussies and absolutely smoked them to all parts.

Very sad

This is terrible news.

Courageous batsman, and by all accounts a great guy off the field.

Overcame some real serious issues with his mental health some years ago.

Very very sad

 

[Plugger35]

Sad news, I loved watching him bat, he was a shining light for England in the late 80s/90s including the 1989 and 1993 Ashes.

He also made a ton as captain of Hampshire when they beat Australia by 2 wickets on their 2001 Ashes tour, a match I went to.

 

[Forward Press]

He moved to Perth many many years ago (that's how I met him), it was his home. Not going to reveal too much of his personal life, but he worked in his brother's business (Chris, also a Test cricketer for England) in between commentary gigs. Turned to religion, therapy, medical treatment...so you cannot say he gave up trying to fight his dark place, just like he never gave up when playing for England.

In the end the dark place won.

 

[Westend]

Yes very sad RIP was well known here in Perth

 

[uptheWC]

I had Robin as a coach a couple of years back. He would give great advice and always had time for anyone and everyone, he was genuinely one of the kindest people you’d ever meet.

He’ll be missed by all who knew him.

 

[revo333]

He had one of the more memorable bat lifts.

I remember an innings in the 89 ashes where he smashed around Merv Hughes.

A test batting average of 43 is pretty decent for that late 80's to mid 90's era of test cricket.

 

[PhatBoy]

Love this recent message shared by Bharat Sundaraisan who forged a friendship with Smith in the last few years.

 

[Gough]

Grew up in a country when men weren't encouraged to express their feelings and chose a career where you don't want to be wracked with self doubt, no wonder he self medicated. I hope he found at least a little peace somewhere along the way.

 

[PhatBoy]

Grew up in a country when men weren't encouraged to express their feelings and chose a career where you don't want to be wracked with self doubt, no wonder he self medicated. I hope he found at least a little peace somewhere along the way.

Bish on commentary telling stories this morning about him.
You often hear platitudes when a sportsman dies young about how they were ‘such a nice guy.’ Too often there are equally as many people who had bad or unremarkable encounters with those people.

To a man everyone seems to have genuinely loved RS that had anything to do with him. Opposition, teammates, media, and based on this forum, even some random local cricketers that just happened to run into him.

 

[Forward Press]

Bish on commentary telling stories this morning about him.
You often hear platitudes when a sportsman dies young about how they were ‘such a nice guy.’ Too often there are equally as many people who had bad or unremarkable encounters with those people.

To a man everyone seems to have genuinely loved RS that had anything to do with him. Opposition, teammates, media, and based on this forum, even some random local cricketers that just happened to run into him.

I didn't play cricket, just talked about it with him, however he had lots of time for anyone and everyone, cricket and non-cricket fans. Generous and gave lots of time to everyone, but perhaps not to himself sadly. It also speaks volumes that although he acknowledged Shane Warne effectively ended his Test career, they became close friends and Warne's death hit him very hard.

I like to think he is finally at rest and playing cricket eternally with Warnie and is smiling at all the lovely tributes flowing in.

 

[PhatBoy]

I didn't play cricket, just talked about it with him, however he had lots of time for anyone and everyone, cricket and non-cricket fans. Generous and gave lots of time to everyone, but perhaps not to himself sadly. It also speaks volumes that although he acknowledged Shane Warne effectively ended his Test career, they became close friends and Warne's death hit him very hard.

I like to think he is finally at rest and playing cricket eternally with Warnie and is smiling at all the lovely tributes flowing in.

I read this morning on an English soccer page on FB (I don’t follow soccer at all) where a lot of people were writing comments about their memories of watching him or some small encounters with him at Hampshire etc.

One guy said he met him at a random unofficial football shindig and got introduced to him and just blurted out ‘sorry Robin, nice to meet you…. But I know f**k all about cricket.’
‘Don’t worry it’s ok. I know f**k all about cricket as well’ and shook hands and had a laugh with him and a chat.

I get very emotional about this sort of thing in general and wondering about its impact on people’s families and friends but this has made me extra sad for some reason. Not sure, maybe it feels like the death of someone who spent half their life being, as you said, kind to others and rarely if ever to himself.

 

[Rabish Binney]

He had one of the more memorable bat lifts.

I remember an innings in the 89 ashes where he smashed around Merv Hughes.

A test batting average of 43 is pretty decent for that late 80's to mid 90's era of test cricket.

Remember watching that innings (4th test at Old Trafford, scored 143 out of 260 and you are right, smashed big Merv everywhere).

I think it was that test where Merv sledged him saying ' you cant f*** bat', to which RS replied 'and you cant f*** bowl so we make a great pair'

 

[Rabish Binney]

I read this morning on an English soccer page on FB (I don’t follow soccer at all) where a lot of people were writing comments about their memories of watching him or some small encounters with him at Hampshire etc.

One guy said he met him at a random unofficial football shindig and got introduced to him and just blurted out ‘sorry Robin, nice to meet you…. But I know f**k all about cricket.’
‘Don’t worry it’s ok. I know f**k all about cricket as well’ and shook hands and had a laugh with him and a chat.

I get very emotional about this sort of thing in general and wondering about its impact on people’s families and friends but this has made me extra sad for some reason. Not sure, maybe it feels like the death of someone who spent half their life being, as you said, kind to others and rarely if ever to himself.

Well said Phat.

I basically watched the whole of the 1989 Ashes series on TV, barely missing any of the action right through until stumps in the early hours (a lot of here would have as well)

Didn't know anything about RS at the time but watching how good he was and the runs he made (and how he made them) in that series made you sit up and take notice of him (550 runs @61 with 2 x 100's and 3x 50's).

Although he as playing for the enemy, a real respect for him grew on me. This was only enhanced with some courageous innings against the mighty WI attack later on in his career

That, coupled with the struggles he dealt with in his life I think make's his death even more sad and the feelings of cricket lovers worldwide reflect this.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Played with Judge at Nedlands and then against him when he went to South Perth. Was fortunate to spend a couple of years at Hampshire with him also. A devastating batsman with the best cut shot you will ever see. But most importantly Judge was as a nice a guy as you will ever meet and always gave time to everyone around him. Deeply saddened by his passing and can only pass on my best wishes to his family. RIP Judge, you will be missed a great deal.

 

[Rabish Binney]

 

[greatwhiteshark]

I read this morning on an English soccer page on FB (I don’t follow soccer at all) where a lot of people were writing comments about their memories of watching him or some small encounters with him at Hampshire etc.

One guy said he met him at a random unofficial football shindig and got introduced to him and just blurted out ‘sorry Robin, nice to meet you…. But I know f**k all about cricket.’
‘Don’t worry it’s ok. I know f**k all about cricket as well’ and shook hands and had a laugh with him and a chat.

I get very emotional about this sort of thing in general and wondering about its impact on people’s families and friends but this has made me extra sad for some reason. Not sure, maybe it feels like the death of someone who spent half their life being, as you said, kind to others and rarely if ever to himself.

Well said mate

 

[Freezin]

Played with Judge at Nedlands and then against him when he went to South Perth. Was fortunate to spend a couple of years at Hampshire with him also. A devastating batsman with the best cut shot you will ever see. But most importantly Judge was as a nice a guy as you will ever meet and always gave time to everyone around him. Deeply saddened by his passing and can only pass on my best wishes to his family. RIP Judge, you will be missed a great deal.

GWS - the fella seemed so quiet and unassuming....till he had bat in his hand.....like Gordon Greenidge, Smith had a cracking cut shot.....why was he called Judge mate?.....and was he quiet and unassuming as I thought he was? Thanks for sharing mate....

 

[PhatBoy]

GWS - the fella seemed so quiet and unassuming....till he had bat in his hand.....like Gordon Greenidge, Smith had a cracking cut shot.....why was he called Judge mate?.....and was he quiet and unassuming as I thought he was? Thanks for sharing mate....

If you check out some of his earlier career photos his hairdo - all flowing curls - looked like a judge’s wig. It was a perfect nickname and I love that he was universally known as it

 

[PhatBoy]

Those cuts. Just wow. Brutal.

 

[largebus]

Echoing other posters but knew someone who played against him at grade level, he would seldom dish it out but would always give it back with interest.
Certainly not the only Pom to move here to have his demons sadly. RIP

 

[DaRick]

Seemed like an affable guy from what I saw of him.

Treated badly by the ENG selectors - I also suspect that the likes of Illingworth considered him too sensitive, and not Yorkshire enough. Should have played longer than he did, even considering his difficulties against legspin (hardly anomalous among 1990s ENG batsmen, especially if the spinner in question is Shane Warne).

I know he was battling some mental demons, so I hope that he didn't succumb to them the way that Graham Thorpe did. The posts here aren't very encouraging in that respect, sadly.

RIP.

 

[PhatBoy]

Interestingly for a player with his reputation against spin, he only played four tests in Asia and he managed a century (in his one test in Sri Lanka) and two half-centuries (from three tests in India) and he wasn’t dismissed at all across five tests by Trevor Hohns in the 1989 Ashes. I think his issues with slow bowling were probably exaggerated a bit because of Warne rather than slow bowling itself. He could obviously play it at some level.
He was not utilised nearly as much as he should have been in places like SA and Australia where he played one series each. Just a travesty of a career really in so many ways

 

[DaRick]

Interestingly for a player with his reputation against spin, he only played four tests in Asia and he managed a century (in his one test in Sri Lanka) and two half-centuries (from three tests in India) and he wasn’t dismissed at all across five tests by Trevor Hohns in the 1989 Ashes. I think his issues with slow bowling were probably exaggerated a bit because of Warne rather than slow bowling itself. He could obviously play it at some level.
He was not utilised nearly as much as he should have been in places like SA and Australia where he played one series each. Just a travesty of a career really in so many ways

I get the impression that Illingworth didn't like him (hence why he only played Tests sporadically from 1994 onwards, and none at all after January 1996).

Smith wasn't really seen as gritty like Jack Russell was, nor was he from Yorkshire like Craig White (two cricketers whom Illingworth favoured).

 

[revo333]

I get the impression that Illingworth didn't like him (hence why he only played Tests sporadically from 1994 onwards, and none at all after January 1996).

Smith wasn't really seen as gritty like Jack Russell was, nor was he from Yorkshire like Craig White (two cricketers whom Illingworth favoured).

From his wiki page..

"In 1994, before Smith scored 175 in the fifth and final Test against the West Indies, he was accused by the then England coach Keith Fletcher of "having too many fingers in too many pies"