ROBIN SMITH VS MERV HUGHES - A GLORIOUS BATTLE!

[standardpoodle09]

My favourite batsman....cricket not been same since he slipped (prematurely) out of England reckoning.

Loved his debut in 88 against Windies, his first partnership with Lamb was at odds with chaos all around them and he was clearly something special.

This video shows my GCSE summer, nothing to do but enjoy a hot and dry summer and watch Ashes tests. Recall a lot of it, including the Hohns catch (Smith was out of partners and going for runs). Cricket not same since.

Thank u so much, Robin!

[IanGorton]

Another South African

[oshauky]

im a pakistani but i grew up admiring smiths cuts and pulls. i dont think i ever saw anybody cut the ball harder. what a batsman. what a glorious batsman

[pdadhwal]

Beer belly was an average bowler

[leeleejackson]

BRUTAL!!!!

The Judge in action!!! Awesome!!! One of the best bats against fast short bowling!!!

Legend!!!!

[eydiot909]

"Sumo Sumo Sumo"

[ludocrat]

"Loop goed Smidy."

"Dankie Lamy."

[ludocrat]

I was at uni in Southampton when Smith was in his prime (around this time) and remember once going to (I think it was) Holt and Haskell to buy a bat. They were his supplier and had a couple of his old ones on display. They were enormous and the middle of them was pretty much destroyed. You can see why in this vid.

Er, on reflection I imagine this is a pretty boring comment. Apologies.

[eydiot909]

@ludocrat - I was fascinated !

[colonel2397]

Merv to Smith after he played and missed at a delivery: "You can't fucking bat!". Smith after hitting Merv for four: "We make a fine pair then don't we". Merv: "What do you mean?" Smith: "Well I can't fucking bat and you can't fucking bowl!"

[Camelsarse]

If he had todays type of Bat he would be knocking peoples heads off with those square cuts! Shabbily treated by Illingworth and ejected out of the team before his time was up.

I would have him in todays England side even though all batsmen are reigning supreme at the moment!

[leeleejackson]

@Camelsarse Your right! Smiths average when he was dropped was still something like 44

[Parrock1]

@Camelsarse there was nothing wrong with bats in Smith's heyday. To say they hit the ball further now is just plain wrong.

[bolivianex]

Very powerful player at his best but i think spin bowlers got under his skin a bit towards the end of his England career.

[HeartfeltDawn]

@bolivianex They did but he was still good enough to get a ton at Columbo against a young Murali. With modern coaching I feel he could have improved against spinners but instead he was the victim of some lousy man management.

[ramakril]

Wow What square cuts man..sound of the bat and the power he puts in the square cuts phenomenal..

but for some reason for me the best shot he played was at 5:01 back foot shot up on his toes awesome..but the comment in the end summed up his career .. "RS wont be unhappy before the spinners come on"

[itsgonnabefullon]

Looks like you were a big fan of Robin Smith! Love the old style huge backlift, not many have a similar style these days.

[robelinda]

@itsgonnabefullon Loved his batting and his duels with Hughes!

[TomAraya23]

Glorious indeed!!!!!

[willxanthi5210]

Some great moustaches on show