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Robin Smith, the legendary England batter known as “The Judge,” has passed away at the age of 62.
In this tribute video, we look back at his remarkable cricket journey — from taking on the world’s fastest bowlers to producing some of England’s most iconic innings.
With 4,236 Test runs, nine centuries, and that unforgettable 167* in ODIs, Robin Smith’s legacy lives on as one of cricket’s bravest and most respected players.

Join us as we celebrate his life, his achievements, his fighting spirit, and the unforgettable moments that made him a true icon of the game.

Rest in peace, Robin Smith. Your courage at the crease will never be forgotten.

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Transcript
00:00Robin Arnold Smith, born on 13 September 1963, will forever be remembered as one of the boldest
00:07and most fearless batters to wear an England shirt. Born in South Africa and forged in an
00:14environment rich with cricketing excellence, Robin Smith grew into a player who did not just
00:20face. Fast-falling, he embraced it with a smile that often annoyed the very man trying to knock
00:26his head off. To most fans, he was the judge or the judgy, a nickname inspired by his long hair
00:33and stern courtroom-like appearance. But for cricket lovers across generations,
00:38he was the man who never blinked with the world's quickest ballers ran in at full speed.
00:44Robin Smith, who passed away at the age of 62 at his home in Perth, Australia,
00:49crafted a career full of grit, courage, and unforgettable stroke play.
00:53Between 1988 and 1996, he played 62 Test matches for England and piled up 4,236 runs
01:02at a superb average of 43.67. Nine Test hundreds came off his bat, three of them
01:08against the mighty West Indies, the bowling unit that defined paced intimidation in that era.
01:14There were few sides in the game as thrilling as Robin Smith unleashing his trademark,
01:20front-foot square cut. It was a shot so ferocious that commentators often joked it should come with
01:27a speed limit. That stroke became his calling card, especially during England's fiery battle with
01:33Western Indies. His performance on the 1990 Caribbean tour, particularly in Jamaica,
01:38cemented him as one of the bravest batters of his generation. The story continued back
01:43home with intense 2-2 series draw in both 1991 and 1995, where Robin Smith once again showcased
01:51that courage is a skill just as important as technique. In one-day international cricket,
01:56he also carries one of his shining legacies at Ed Boston in 1993. Robin Smith hammered an unbeaten 167
02:04against Australia, an inning of pure authority. The landmark stood untouched as England's highest
02:102-3 score for 23 years, until Alex Hales finally surpassed it in 2016. Yet cricket is a game that
02:18often magnifies both strength and vulnerabilities. Despite his mastery against Pace, critics questioned
02:24Smith's battle against spin-balling. And when Shane Vaughn crossed onto the Ashes stage in 1993,
02:30selectors eventually chose to overlook Smith for England's next Australia tour. Ironically,
02:36Smith and Vaughn would later become great friends, a bond that even influenced Vaughn's decision to
02:42sign with Hampshire. Robin Smith's roots were laid deep in South Africa, where his father built a
02:47personal cricket net in the Durban home. It was there that legends like Barry Richards and Mike Protector
02:54helped refine the young boy's game. Following his family moved and the footsteps of his older brother,
03:00Chris Smith, Robin Smith debuted in 1988 at Headingley against the West Indies. His first innings
03:05featured a century stand with Allen Lamb, another South African-born Englishman and hinted at the
03:11flair England was about to experience. But cricket began cricket. England lost that match by 10
03:17wickets to the fearsome trio balling of Ambrose, Marshall and Wash. By the mid-1990s, despite being
03:24in peak from Smith, played his final test in early 1996 against South Africa in Cape Town. New leadership
03:32sought a younger direction, and despite his batting average rivaled only by David Gower and Graham
03:38Thorpe among his peers, Smith found himself pushed aside. His life after cricket was deeply human.
03:44Robin Smith fought well-documented battle with alcoholism, a journey he openly shared in his
03:50powerful 2019 autobiography. The judge more than just a game. Despite the struggle, Robin Smith continued
03:57to mentor young cricketers and recently attended the first Ashes Test in Perth, speaking bravely about
04:04his recovery. Only days later, he visited an English Lions training session at Lilac Hill at
04:11Andrew Philantoff's invitation, another reminder of how much he will give back the game. His death was
04:17confirmed in a statement from his family, who requested privacy and asked that no assumption be made about
04:23the cause until official investigations were completed. Tributes poured in from across the
04:29cricketing world. ECB chairman Richard Thompson described him as a batter who met hostile fastballing
04:36with a smile, a player ahead of his time whose presence lifted England's quarter. His country
04:41record with Hampshire, whom he captained from 1998 to 2002, remains outstanding. Robin Smith helped the club
04:49secure the Benson & Hedges Cup 1988 and 1992, and the Netflix Trophy 1991, winning player of the match
04:57in both finals. Away from the game, his personal life saw a treble length. His 1988 marriage to Keith
05:04James eventually broke down despite their move to Perth in 2007 with their children. The couple divorced
05:11in 2010, marking another emotional chapter in Smith's complicated journey. Former teammates Kevin
05:17James announced Smith's passing news, marking the end of remarkable life, one shaded by audacity,
05:23brilliance and vulnerability, and the unshakable courage that cricket fans will never forget.
05:29Robin Smith did not just clip fastballing, he stared it down and in doing so he etched his legacy
05:35into the heart of English cricket forever. As far as Robin Smith stats, he played 62 test matches for
05:41England between 1988 and 1996. Over those 62 test matches, he batted in 112 innings, remaining not
05:50out 15 times. He scored a total of 4,236 runs, with a high score of 175. His batting average in test was
05:5843.67. During his test career, he amassed 9 centuries and 28 half centuries. On the attack front,
06:06Smith gravely bored in test, he delivered only 24 balls across his test career and did not take any
06:12wickets. Robin Smith appeared in 71 ODIs for England. Over those matches, he batted in 70 innings and was
06:19not out eight times. He scored a total of 2,419 runs in ODIs and his highest score in the format was
06:27unbeaten 167 not out. A famous innings played at 8th Boston in 1993, his ODIs batting average was 39.01.
06:36Smith's ODI century tallies stood at 4 along with 15 half centuries. Beyond international cricket,
06:42Smith had a long and productive first-class career that spanned county mainly and other domestic
06:48matches. Over his career, he played 426 first-class matches, across which he batted in 717 innings,
06:56and remained not out 87 times. He aggregated 26,155 runs with the highest first-class score of 209
07:05not out. His first-class batting average was 41.51. He compiled 61 centuries and 131 half centuries
07:13in first-class cricket. In the List Day Arena, Robin Smith featured in 443 List Day matches. In those
07:20games, he scored a total of 14,927 runs with a top score of 167 not out. His List Day batting average
07:29was 41.12. During his List Day career, he hit 27 centuries and 81 half centuries.
07:35Sir Robin Smith's sudden passing leaves the cricketing world without one of its bravest and most
07:41beloved batting warriors. The judge has fallen silent, but his fearless stroke play and fighting
07:46spirit will echo through cricket forever. Cricketmon, the lion-hearted past man, whose legacy will
07:52continue to inspire generations. Robin Smith may be gone, but the memories of his courage against the
07:58fairest balling attack will leave eternally. A fearless competitor and a cherished figure in English
08:05cricket history. If you like this video, please comment, share and subscribe. Thank you very much.
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