India, Dec. 2 -- English cricket went into mourning following the death of Robin Smith, the former England batter revered for his courage against the world's quickest bowlers and celebrated for one of the most destructive square cuts the game has ever seen. Smith, 62, died unexpectedly at his home in South Perth, Australia, on Tuesday (December 2, 2025), prompting an outpouring of grief from former teammates, opponents and admirers.

Smith played 62 Tests between 1988 and 1996, scoring 4,236 runs at an average of 43.67, with nine centuries. A specialist against pace, he built a reputation as one of cricket's bravest and most technically astute players of fast bowling. Three of his hundreds came against the mighty West Indies attack, whose...