Robin Smith: Former England batter dies aged 62

“It is with the deepest and deepest sense of sadness and loss that we must announce the passing of Robin Smith,” the family said in a statement.

“Robin has gained a reputation as one of Britain’s most charismatic and popular actors.

“A brave and dashing batsman, he excelled for both Hampshire and his adopted country, collecting legions of admirers and friends along the way.”

Born in South Africa in 1963, Smith followed his older brother Chris and a future England international to Hampshire in his youth and made his debut in 1982.

He qualified to play for England after a four-year qualification period and made his Test debut against the West Indies at Headingley in 1988.

He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka later that summer.

The following year, Smith became England’s top scorer with 553 points in a 4–0 Ashes home defeat against Australia.

Particularly prolific in English conditions, he scored seven of his nine Test centuries and averaged almost 50 on home soil.

He was included in England’s squad for the 1992 World Cup, but did not play in the final defeat to Pakistan.

Smith made an unbeaten 167 from 163 balls against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993; this was the highest score by an England player in this format until Alex Hales scored 171 against Pakistan in 2016.

Smith’s struggles with spin and a persistent shoulder injury led to his exclusion from the Test side in 1994, and despite a brief recall 12 months later, his international career ended at the age of 32.