Fearless Robin Smith and his square cuts gave hope to England in grim era | Tanya Aldred

Smith stood up to West Indies bowling and scored centuries against Australia in the most demanding of circumstancesA Robin Smith square cut was more than a whip‑crack snap of the bat. For English cricket fans of the late 80s and early 90s, it was a nudge in the ribs that, underneath the pastings, the dismal collapses and Rentaghost selections, the national team would fight another day.Smith’s cut, alongside a David Gower cover drive, gave hope where there was little left in the