England legend Robin Smith dies as ex-team-mate breaks down in tears on radio

England cricket icon Robin Smith has died at the age of 62.

Smith, who played 62 test matches for England and finished his international career in 1996, died overnight in Australia. His friend and former team-mate Kevan James revealed the news on BBC Radio Solent Sport as he struggled to hold back the tears.

Just days ago, Smith had bravely opened up about his troubled past with alcohol abuse and had travelled down under for the Ashes. His cause of death is currently unknown.

Smith made his test debut for England in July 1988 against the West Indies before making his ODI bow in September of the same year against Sri Lanka. He spent his entire county cricket career with Hampshire.

He was in Perth last week for the first test of the Ashes, where he had the chance to catch up with old England pals Graham Gooch, David Gower and Allan Lamb.

The batsman struggled with years of alcohol abuse, which was made worse by depression. During his lowest points, doctors told his loved ones he might only have two days to live as he was hospitalised for four months.

Smith suffered many relapses, including after the passing of his father just a few months ago.

In an interview with The Times just last week, Smith candidly said: “I thought I had fully recovered. Then having seen dad in the state he was, and living on my own, I got back into my… well, you know, once an alcoholic always an alcoholic.

“You always battle to keep away from it. It’s not difficult to go back on the alcohol.”

He added: “After that week where I started drinking again, I saw the professor who had spoken to my family about me not necessarily making it.

“I told him I’d let myself down. He said, ‘If you’ve been drinking again, you must be a cat with nine lives. Because many other people wouldn’t have survived this.’ I’m on my last warning, I know.”

Smith previously opened up in a heartbreaking confession to the Daily Mail that he had almost taken his own life twice. He said: “I speak a little bit now publicly about mental health. And I was very, very close twice, within minutes, of finishing my life.

“I wish I’d spoken to my friends. I didn’t want to burden them with my problems, but I should have reached out to them.

“Anyone who thinks they might be a burden on their friends, they’re absolutely not. You’ve just got to be open and be yourself.”