Former England cricketer Robin Smith has died at the age of 62, his family said.
Smith played 62 Test matches and 71 one-day internationals for England between 1988 and 1996. He was part of the team that finished as runners-up in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
A statement from the Smith family said: “It is with the deepest and most profound feelings of sadness and loss that we have to announce the passing of Robin Arnold Smith, beloved father of Harrison and Margo and cherished brother of Christopher.”
“Robin passed away unexpectedly at his South Perth apartment on Monday 1 December. The cause of his death is currently unknown.”
Born in Durban, South Africa, Smith moved to England to play for Hampshire in 1983 – retiring from cricket 17 years later, aged 40, with 18,984 county runs to his name and reputation as a Hampshire great.
Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove described Smith in a statement as “one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Hampshire cricket heroes of all time”.
Smith made his England debut five years after moving to Hampshire and averaged 43.67 in Test cricket, scoring 28 fifties and nine centuries, with his best score of 175 in 1994 against the West Indies and their formidable pace attack of that era.
Affectionately called ‘The Umpire’, Smith’s ODI best of 167 not out against Australia in 1993 stood as England’s record for 23 years until Alex Hales hit 171 against Pakistan in 2016.
Known for his powerful shot, especially off the back foot, Smith’s fearsome shot was the stuff of legend.
ECB chairman Richard Thompson said: “Robin Smith was a player who stood toe-to-toe with some of the fastest bowlers in the world, meeting the spells of enemy fast bowling with a defiant smile and incredible resilience. He did it in a way that gave England fans immense pride and no shortage of entertainment.”
“He was a shot ahead of his time, typified by his memorable unbeaten 167 off 163 balls in an ODI match against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993.”
“We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing and the thoughts of all of us in cricket are with his friends, family and loved ones.”
Just two weeks ago, Smith met the England Lions squad during their tour at Lilac Hill in Perth at the invitation of coach Andrew Flintoff.
Since his retirement from cricket in 2004, Smith has struggled with his mental health and alcohol addiction.
A statement from his family added: “His struggles with alcohol and mental health are well documented, but this should not be the basis for speculation as to the cause of death, which will be determined by a post-mortem examination.”
“This is an extremely difficult time for all of us as we try to come to terms with our bereavement, and we would therefore greatly appreciate the media and cricket followers being respectful of our privacy.”