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[Buzz]

thought I would, apropos of not much point out this article on Robin Smith on Cricinfo today.
http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/469055.html

Robin Smith is, in my eyes, an absolute god. It was he who took on the west indies in their pomp, it was the judge who helped Athers in his eyewatering 185 against the saffers (for the first half until Jack Russell took over)

The Judge used to hit a square cut harder than anyone in history - he was known to hit them through the advertising hoardings.
His idea of a practice session was to put the bowling maching on a table (for extra bounce) and practice from 6am short stuff and as quick as the machine could give it. (after a massive night out on the smash...)

If you haven't heard of him - or don't know much about him read this http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/133627.html

plus this is on cricinfo today...
Robin Smith, aka the Judge, was a hero to a generation of England fans brought up on Australian and West Indian domination at the end of the 1980s and early 1990s. His ferocious square-cut, wide-eyed pre-ball routine and bravery against the quicks gave hope; the premature end to his England career broke hearts. And he regularly rescued his beloved Hampshire - both on and off the pitch.
http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/469055.html

[Canners]

I used to love watching Smith with his optimum 1000

[Buzz]

This is great:
Is it true that Barry Richards and Mike Procter would practise at your house?
Dad was a bit of an eccentric and when there was a house for sale next to ours, he bought it, knocked it down and built a cricket pitch. Barry and Mike - who lived only about a mile away - would come over and bat and practise in our back garden. We also had a bowling machine and the pitch we played on was concrete with an Astroturf overlay, so when it was cranked up to 80 or 85mph, it meant I was exposed to pace very early in my life.

And for those who like his bats...

[Johnny]

I used to love watching Smith with his optimum 1000

And before that his Ultimate 750, and before that his Elite, and before that his Powerspot - always with a yellow grip

One of my earliest Cricket memories is watching Judgy against the Aussies at Trent Bridge in '93. Was sat square of the wicket as he brutally cover drove Brendan Julina for four. The sound as the ball smashed the advertising hoarding was immense.

He spoke at a Sportman's dinner in Blackpool a few years back so got to meet him - seemed like a nice bloke and great speaker - he told a cracking story about when he first moved to England and he was playing an away game at Glamorgan. His brother and a team mate got out their passports as they came to the Wales border and convinced Judgy he needed it to get into the country - when he told them he hadn't got it with him they decided to hide him in the boot of the car to 'Smuggle' him in - apparently they kept him locked in there all the way to Cardiff

[Talisman]

Great article, some half truths I feel, he should have played more and he was very badly handled but he was ruffled by spinners and he ducked that question nicely.

I've met him quite a few times at the Rose Bowl as I was lucky enough to get corporate passes for the matches down there and what is not reported is the fact he has had to rebuild his life off the pitch after losing everything.

[eaowbear]

Didn't he own a pub called Judges in Romsey? Not that that has much relevance to anything...

I always thought he was class and was badly let down by England and discarded far too early. There was an article in All Out Cricket or Wisden which was quite revealing and he absolutely slated Illingworth for his man management skills or lack thereof.

[will5210]

Not enough moustaches in cricket these days

[Bulldog Cricket]

What a great player (another South African though). Ditched far too early i think. My brother in law played against him (and got him out !!) back in 1990 and says he hit the ball harder than anyone else he played against, and he played with and against some of the best.

[Canners]

i think theres quite a few players that have been given the boot far too early for England? it still frustrates me Fosters never likely to play for England again and what about Ramprakash

[Canners]

This is great:
Is it true that Barry Richards and Mike Procter would practise at your house?
Dad was a bit of an eccentric and when there was a house for sale next to ours, he bought it, knocked it down and built a cricket pitch. Barry and Mike - who lived only about a mile away - would come over and bat and practise in our back garden. We also had a bowling machine and the pitch we played on was concrete with an Astroturf overlay, so when it was cranked up to 80 or 85mph, it meant I was exposed to pace very early in my life.

And for those who like his bats...

love it buzz

[pacman75cricket]

If I remember right hje used a powerspot giant or giant

Agreed not given enough support at the end.  Still averaged over 40 if I remember right so deserved better.

[Bulldog Cricket]

Yea I think your right and i think it was a big heavy bat at that ? Central contracts would have suited Smith just great (and a few other around at that time) I'm sure they would have played lots more tests if they had been around then.

This is the link to the game when my brother in law got him out.

http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/52/52695.html

Two fantastic line ups. In my opinion, 2 of the best batsman i have ever seen in Gower and Cook, and the best fast bowler of all time in Marshal. I guess that is the flip side of central contracts in that all the best players played county cricket.

[ppccopener]

Smith was a superb player and my hero facing the quick stuff! never shirked the genuinely fast windies bowlers,not the stuff Bopara scored his runs against last year!
read his book if you can Quest for Number 1,great insite into a batsman who had crisis of confidence -just like us all!

[Bulldog Cricket]

Yea have read that one ppccopener and would agree that it is a very good book. If any one fancies borrowing it let me know.

[thebd11]

kieron, u got ma pm, my system is not in great nick at the moment