Former England batsman Robin Smith died this week. Smith was 62 years old.
Smith played 30 first-class fixtures for Natal (since renamed KwaZulu-Natal) in South Africa from 1981 to 1985 before relocating to England.
He played 62 Tests and 71 ODIs from 1988 to 1996 – and hit 13 centuries in international cricket.
“Robin Smith was a player who stood toe to toe with some of the quickest bowlers in the world, meeting spells of hostile fast bowling with a defiant smile and an incredible resilience,” said England and Wales Cricket Board chairperson Richard Thompson.
“He did so in a way that gave England fans enormous pride, and no shortage of entertainment.
“He was a batter ahead of his time which was typified in that unforgettable unbeaten 167 from 163 balls in an ODI against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993.
“His record at Hampshire is exemplary, and he’ll be remembered rightly as a great of Hampshire CCC. We’re desperately sad to learn of his passing, and the thoughts of all of us in cricket are with his friends, family and loved ones.”