Smith played 62 Tests and 71 one-day internationals for England between 1988 and 1996, scoring nine Test centuries and recording an average of 43.67 in the longest form of the game. His most memorable innings was a dominant 175 against the West Indies’ legendary pace attack in the Caribbean in 1994.

Smith, who was born in South Africa, captained Hampshire for four years, and his former county teammates Kevan James announced the news in a tearful interview on Solent News radio station on Tuesday.

“It’s been horrible,” James said. “It’s a sad day.

“At the time, in the 80s and 90s, he was England’s best batter.

"He was a super player, particularly of fast bowling in an era where the West Indies had all these fast bowlers.

"He was one of the few England batters who stood up to them and

See Full Page