1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,027 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:13,267 --> 00:00:15,587 Speaker 2: Very sad news this week with the passing of former 4 00:00:15,667 --> 00:00:19,227 Speaker 2: England batsman Robin Smith at the age of just sixty two. 5 00:00:19,587 --> 00:00:22,547 Speaker 2: Robin Smith played sixty two Test matches for England between 6 00:00:22,627 --> 00:00:25,947 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty eight and nineteen ninety six, scoring four two 7 00:00:26,027 --> 00:00:28,387 Speaker 2: hundred and thirty six runs at an average of nearly 8 00:00:28,427 --> 00:00:31,787 Speaker 2: forty four, with nine centuries. In a first class career 9 00:00:31,827 --> 00:00:34,747 Speaker 2: that stretched for more than two decades, he scored over 10 00:00:34,827 --> 00:00:38,827 Speaker 2: twenty six thousand runs. He also played in seventy one 11 00:00:38,947 --> 00:00:41,507 Speaker 2: One Day Internationals and was part of the England squad 12 00:00:41,547 --> 00:00:45,227 Speaker 2: that reached the nineteen ninety two World Cup final. Former 13 00:00:45,347 --> 00:00:48,907 Speaker 2: New Zealand opener Brian Young played against Robin Smith several 14 00:00:48,987 --> 00:00:53,227 Speaker 2: times and formed a friendship with him, including a three 15 00:00:53,307 --> 00:00:56,787 Speaker 2: Test series in England in nineteen ninety four. Brian Young's 16 00:00:56,827 --> 00:00:59,387 Speaker 2: with us. Brian understand that before that series in England 17 00:00:59,827 --> 00:01:03,907 Speaker 2: in nineteen ninety four, Robin Smith and Martin Crowe had 18 00:01:03,987 --> 00:01:05,147 Speaker 2: a wee side bet. 19 00:01:05,267 --> 00:01:11,347 Speaker 3: Is that right, yes, Jackson, and good afternoon everybody listening 20 00:01:11,347 --> 00:01:17,667 Speaker 3: in Yes, Judge. Robin Smith and Martin crow were very 21 00:01:17,707 --> 00:01:21,747 Speaker 3: old mates, and I got I got to know Judge 22 00:01:21,747 --> 00:01:24,427 Speaker 3: pretty well as well. But he and Martin went back 23 00:01:24,427 --> 00:01:27,547 Speaker 3: a long way. And during the ninety four tour event, 24 00:01:29,347 --> 00:01:31,227 Speaker 3: as mates do, they sort of have a bit of 25 00:01:31,307 --> 00:01:34,907 Speaker 3: bit of banter and a little bit of I'm going 26 00:01:34,947 --> 00:01:37,187 Speaker 3: to score more runs than you and the Test series, 27 00:01:37,267 --> 00:01:40,347 Speaker 3: and so there was obviously a wage you put on it, 28 00:01:40,387 --> 00:01:45,907 Speaker 3: which probably involved dinner and drinks and maybe maybe a 29 00:01:45,947 --> 00:01:48,427 Speaker 3: little hundred quidal or whatever. I don't know the details, 30 00:01:48,467 --> 00:01:51,587 Speaker 3: but it was it was a personal bet between the two. 31 00:01:51,427 --> 00:01:53,587 Speaker 2: And well, let's go to the end of the series. 32 00:01:53,627 --> 00:01:56,827 Speaker 2: Martin Crow scored three hundred and eighty runs in that series, 33 00:01:57,067 --> 00:01:59,107 Speaker 2: including one hundred and forty in the second Test at 34 00:01:59,147 --> 00:02:02,947 Speaker 2: Lord's Robin Smith just the one hundred and twenty runs 35 00:02:02,987 --> 00:02:05,947 Speaker 2: across the series. So fair to say Martin won the bet. 36 00:02:05,947 --> 00:02:09,867 Speaker 3: Okay, Yes, and that's where that's where the story gets 37 00:02:10,267 --> 00:02:13,467 Speaker 3: gets really humorous, you know. And I have to say 38 00:02:13,547 --> 00:02:17,467 Speaker 3: that Judge was as a lot of the plaudits around 39 00:02:17,507 --> 00:02:20,787 Speaker 3: the around the world have have probably shown, he was 40 00:02:20,947 --> 00:02:24,867 Speaker 3: an outstanding human being, just a great guy. One of 41 00:02:24,907 --> 00:02:29,267 Speaker 3: the time great guys do anything for anybody, passionate, just 42 00:02:29,627 --> 00:02:34,027 Speaker 3: a quietly spoken and just a just a lovely guy. 43 00:02:34,107 --> 00:02:39,227 Speaker 3: A brutal destroyer of bowling attacks. You wouldn't think that 44 00:02:39,267 --> 00:02:42,107 Speaker 3: he was a gentle man at all, but he really 45 00:02:42,147 --> 00:02:45,867 Speaker 3: really was. And you know, obviously our heart go our 46 00:02:45,907 --> 00:02:49,547 Speaker 3: hearts go out to his family and friends and everyone 47 00:02:49,587 --> 00:02:52,547 Speaker 3: around the globe who knew him. But and and also 48 00:02:52,707 --> 00:02:55,627 Speaker 3: very humorous man as well, which was which was part 49 00:02:55,667 --> 00:02:58,147 Speaker 3: of it. And the thing that I remember the most. 50 00:02:58,267 --> 00:03:03,747 Speaker 3: We were at Lord's at the second Test and Martin 51 00:03:03,867 --> 00:03:07,787 Speaker 3: scored an incredible on hundred and four, literally on one leg, 52 00:03:07,907 --> 00:03:11,587 Speaker 3: if everyone might remember, he had a carbon fiber brace 53 00:03:11,667 --> 00:03:14,867 Speaker 3: on his leg and he was hobbling around, and he 54 00:03:14,907 --> 00:03:19,547 Speaker 3: scored this magnificent one forty odd at Lord's, which was 55 00:03:19,627 --> 00:03:25,307 Speaker 3: quite sobering for the rest of us. And and poor 56 00:03:25,307 --> 00:03:29,227 Speaker 3: old Judge was horrendously out formed. Like he was, he 57 00:03:29,747 --> 00:03:32,067 Speaker 3: did not know where his next run was coming from. 58 00:03:32,107 --> 00:03:34,787 Speaker 3: He was under extreme pressure from the selectors, from the 59 00:03:34,827 --> 00:03:36,987 Speaker 3: media or what the you know what the English you 60 00:03:37,147 --> 00:03:40,907 Speaker 3: like with, you know, putting pressure on people who are underperforming. 61 00:03:40,947 --> 00:03:43,667 Speaker 3: And he knew that he was on he was on 62 00:03:43,707 --> 00:03:49,147 Speaker 3: the precipice of being dropped and in the in the 63 00:03:49,147 --> 00:03:54,347 Speaker 3: first innings, we were walking between overs and Martin was 64 00:03:54,387 --> 00:03:55,947 Speaker 3: at gully and I was at second slip. And so 65 00:03:56,027 --> 00:03:57,947 Speaker 3: when you walk in between overs, you tend to walk 66 00:03:58,027 --> 00:04:00,267 Speaker 3: down the line of the wicket and you tend to 67 00:04:00,267 --> 00:04:02,267 Speaker 3: walk close to where the batsmen are having a chat 68 00:04:02,307 --> 00:04:06,987 Speaker 3: in the middle between overs. And I remember saying, good, good, 69 00:04:07,027 --> 00:04:10,027 Speaker 3: good morning, judge, how are you? And he says in 70 00:04:10,107 --> 00:04:13,107 Speaker 3: a South African accent, and I do apologize for people listening, 71 00:04:13,107 --> 00:04:15,987 Speaker 3: and he said, ah, youngie. He says, I've got this 72 00:04:16,107 --> 00:04:18,027 Speaker 3: rash on the back of my neck. My head's been 73 00:04:18,067 --> 00:04:20,427 Speaker 3: on the chopping block for so long. I've got this 74 00:04:20,507 --> 00:04:24,987 Speaker 3: massive rash. And this is a that's the sort of 75 00:04:25,027 --> 00:04:27,587 Speaker 3: guy he was. He was like, here he is in 76 00:04:27,627 --> 00:04:30,587 Speaker 3: the middle of the wicket, you know, having ai with 77 00:04:30,667 --> 00:04:34,627 Speaker 3: Graham Gooch or Michael Atherton or whoever it was. And 78 00:04:34,787 --> 00:04:37,387 Speaker 3: I've just said, you know, get a judge, how are you? 79 00:04:37,547 --> 00:04:40,507 Speaker 3: And he's just tucking the living mickey out of himself, 80 00:04:40,587 --> 00:04:44,587 Speaker 3: trying to, I think, probably alleviate the pressure and have 81 00:04:44,627 --> 00:04:46,907 Speaker 3: a bit of a laugh, because you're bat better if 82 00:04:46,907 --> 00:04:49,707 Speaker 3: you're smiling. But it didn't work, and he didn't get 83 00:04:49,787 --> 00:04:53,987 Speaker 3: very many I don't think. And then of course you know, 84 00:04:54,387 --> 00:04:57,187 Speaker 3: this is a little later on. He's still struggling, and 85 00:04:57,227 --> 00:04:58,947 Speaker 3: he would get a loose delivery and he'd hit it 86 00:04:58,987 --> 00:05:00,747 Speaker 3: straight to a field when he wouldn't get the gap. 87 00:05:01,627 --> 00:05:04,347 Speaker 3: And we were warm between the overs again another time, 88 00:05:04,587 --> 00:05:08,507 Speaker 3: and I didn't say anything, but Martin Crowe said, you know, 89 00:05:09,347 --> 00:05:13,227 Speaker 3: keep you know, how's it going, Judge, And he motioned 90 00:05:13,347 --> 00:05:18,107 Speaker 3: to his his chest and he opened up what was 91 00:05:18,187 --> 00:05:20,747 Speaker 3: like a pretend if he was wearing a blazer or 92 00:05:20,787 --> 00:05:24,587 Speaker 3: a jacket and if you can imagine somebody imagining he's 93 00:05:24,627 --> 00:05:26,667 Speaker 3: got to make believe jacket on, and he opened up 94 00:05:26,707 --> 00:05:31,947 Speaker 3: his opened up this make believe jacket, and he said, hey, Hogan, 95 00:05:32,067 --> 00:05:34,147 Speaker 3: how would you like me to pay? Would make me 96 00:05:34,187 --> 00:05:37,787 Speaker 3: to pay? Way visa MasterCard or American expression? 97 00:05:38,827 --> 00:05:39,347 Speaker 2: Wonderful? 98 00:05:39,467 --> 00:05:44,227 Speaker 3: Because yeah, it was just honestly, I was creasing myself. 99 00:05:44,747 --> 00:05:48,867 Speaker 3: So was Martin, so was so was Robin Smith, Judge, 100 00:05:49,027 --> 00:05:51,627 Speaker 3: and it was he was basically saying, you've scored this 101 00:05:51,987 --> 00:05:55,747 Speaker 3: magnificent one hundred and forty and I can't score a run. 102 00:05:56,067 --> 00:05:58,627 Speaker 3: There's no way on winning this bed. How would you 103 00:05:58,707 --> 00:06:02,067 Speaker 3: like me to pay? You know? But that was the 104 00:06:02,107 --> 00:06:04,547 Speaker 3: measure of the man in a in the middle of 105 00:06:04,587 --> 00:06:08,747 Speaker 3: a Test match where you know, a full house at Lord's, 106 00:06:09,867 --> 00:06:12,387 Speaker 3: the pressure's on, you know, the microscoes on, all the 107 00:06:12,427 --> 00:06:16,307 Speaker 3: cameras are on you, and and a difficult situation and 108 00:06:16,347 --> 00:06:19,227 Speaker 3: here he was trying to make light of the situation. 109 00:06:19,387 --> 00:06:21,467 Speaker 3: And I think that's the measure of the guy. 110 00:06:21,627 --> 00:06:24,747 Speaker 2: What a great what a great couple of stories, Brian brilliant. 111 00:06:24,907 --> 00:06:26,587 Speaker 2: But as you say, he might have been out of 112 00:06:26,627 --> 00:06:29,947 Speaker 2: form in that particular series, but man, he could bat, 113 00:06:30,187 --> 00:06:32,267 Speaker 2: couldn't well. I remember watching him come over here for 114 00:06:32,307 --> 00:06:35,347 Speaker 2: a one day series headed that nineteen ninety two World Cup, 115 00:06:35,387 --> 00:06:38,347 Speaker 2: and just the way he used to play, you know, 116 00:06:38,587 --> 00:06:42,307 Speaker 2: cover drives and you know, all around the wicket. He 117 00:06:42,347 --> 00:06:44,107 Speaker 2: could play, couldn't he. Robin Smith? 118 00:06:44,227 --> 00:06:47,227 Speaker 3: Oh well, certainly square of the wicket. And you know 119 00:06:47,307 --> 00:06:49,627 Speaker 3: there's some great series against the West and he's at 120 00:06:49,667 --> 00:06:53,187 Speaker 3: the heart of their powers and he would take them on. 121 00:06:53,427 --> 00:06:55,707 Speaker 3: So he was not a He was a destructive player 122 00:06:55,747 --> 00:06:58,387 Speaker 3: and he would never he would try and dominate. And 123 00:07:00,227 --> 00:07:03,947 Speaker 3: I used to love fielding a point. And the reason 124 00:07:03,987 --> 00:07:06,827 Speaker 3: I used to love feeling a point is because in 125 00:07:06,947 --> 00:07:08,907 Speaker 3: One day Internationals and what have you, I was often 126 00:07:09,027 --> 00:07:11,707 Speaker 3: slipped in the Test matches. But I used to love 127 00:07:11,827 --> 00:07:13,707 Speaker 3: being around point because that's where a lot of action 128 00:07:13,987 --> 00:07:15,627 Speaker 3: used to happen. The ball used to come quickly and 129 00:07:15,707 --> 00:07:17,267 Speaker 3: I used to like that and what have you. I 130 00:07:17,307 --> 00:07:19,147 Speaker 3: can tell you when you played England and Robin Smith 131 00:07:19,267 --> 00:07:22,547 Speaker 3: was batting, I'd go Harry, would you like to go point, mate? 132 00:07:25,107 --> 00:07:29,747 Speaker 3: Because he was probably one of the fiercestest, fiercest cutters 133 00:07:29,787 --> 00:07:32,587 Speaker 3: of the ball and no one would hit it harder. 134 00:07:33,027 --> 00:07:34,387 Speaker 3: And I can tell you if you were at point, 135 00:07:34,467 --> 00:07:38,547 Speaker 3: you were in for sore hands, that for sure. But yeah, look, 136 00:07:38,587 --> 00:07:42,467 Speaker 3: it's very sad news, but we should celebrate, you know, 137 00:07:42,707 --> 00:07:47,227 Speaker 3: a terrific person first and foremost and a terrific player secondly. 138 00:07:47,707 --> 00:07:50,347 Speaker 2: Well you've absolutely done that for us this afternoon. Brian, 139 00:07:50,387 --> 00:07:52,507 Speaker 2: thank you so much for joining us, and yeah, we 140 00:07:53,107 --> 00:07:55,467 Speaker 2: too were so wish the family of Robin Smith all 141 00:07:55,467 --> 00:07:57,387 Speaker 2: the best, Brian, great to chat, Thanks for taking our. 142 00:07:57,387 --> 00:07:58,747 Speaker 3: Call, My pleasure. 143 00:07:59,627 --> 00:08:02,787 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 144 00:08:02,907 --> 00:08:06,187 Speaker 1: to News Talk z B weekends from midday, or follow 145 00:08:06,227 --> 00:08:07,787 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.