Ollie Robinson

This article is about the English bowler. For the English wicket-keeper batter, see Ollie Robinson (cricketer, born 1998).

Ollie Robinson

Robinson in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Oliver Edward Robinson
Born	(1993-12-01) 1 December 1993 (age 31) Margate, Kent, England
Nickname	Robbo
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium-fast
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	England (2021–present)
Test debut (cap 699)	2 June 2021 v New Zealand
Last Test	23 February 2024 v India
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2013–2014	Yorkshire
2014	Hampshire
2015–present	Sussex (squad no. 25)
2024	Trent Rockets
Career statistics
Competition Test FC LA T20 Matches 20 102 16 65 Runs scored 410 2,353 122 163 Batting average 14.64 19.60 15.25 9.58 100s/50s 0/1 1/8 0/0 0/0 Top score 58 110 30 31 Balls bowled 3,796 19,038 672 1,230 Wickets 76 435 19 63 Bowling average 22.92 21.30 34.89 27.36 5 wickets in innings 3 23 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 6 0 0 Best bowling 5/49 9/78 3/31 4/15 Catches/stumpings 8/– 31/– 7/– 24/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 29 September 2024

Oliver Edward Robinson (born 1 December 1993) is an English professional cricketer who plays internationally for the England Test cricket team. In domestic cricket, he represents Sussex, having previously played for Yorkshire and Hampshire. He made his Test debut in 2021, and plays as a right-arm medium-pace bowler.^[1] He made a comeback in test cricket against India in the 4th test at Ranchi after a long break from injury. Robinson holds the unfortunate record for the most expensive over ever bowled in the English County Championship, conceding 43 against Leicestershire in June 2024.

Domestic career

Robinson began his career playing for Margate Cricket Club Kent Second XI. After one match of the 2013 season, he left Kent for Leicestershire before playing for Yorkshire Second XI. He finished the 2013 season with 59 wickets and 1,282 runs in Second XI cricket, and made his first-team List A debut for Yorkshire in July 2013 against Leicestershire.^[2] In October 2013, Robinson signed a professional contract with Yorkshire.^[2]

After making seven T20 Blast appearances for Yorkshire during the 2014 season Robinson was sacked by Yorkshire in July for unprofessional actions, mostly related to poor timekeeping.^[3][4] Later in the 2014 season Robinson made one List A appearance for Hampshire.^[5][6]

In April 2015, Sussex signed Robinson on a short-term deal, after an injury crisis with bowlers Tymal Mills, James Anyon and Lewis Hatchett all unavailable.^[7][6] Robinson had played a Second XI match for Sussex^[7] and was named in the squad for a County Championship match the next day against Durham where he made his first-class debut.^[6][8] In the match Robinson, batting at number nine, scored a century in a Sussex record-breaking tenth-wicket partnership with Matt Hobden of 164.^[9] In doing so, he became the first Sussex player in 95 years to score a century on their County Championship debut.^[a][9] Robinson took his first five-wicket haul in May 2015 against Warwickshire.^[10] In the 2015 season, Robinson took 46 Championship wickets at an average of 24.71, and was nominated for the LV= Breakthrough Player Award^[11] and won the Sussex Young Player of the Year award.^[12] In October 2015, Robinson signed a new three-year contract with Sussex.^[12]

In April 2021, Robinson was named Sussex vice-captain in County Championship matches.^[13] That month, he took 9 wickets for 78 runs in a County Championship match against Glamorgan;^[14] it was the best bowling figures by an Englishman since 2016.^[15]

On 10 June 2021, Robinson announced that he was taking a "short break from the game",^[16] with Sussex saying that he would be unavailable for their first two games of the 2021 t20 Blast.^[17] In July 2021, Robinson was signed by the Manchester Originals for the 2021 season of The Hundred, as a replacement for Harry Gurney.^[18] In April 2022, he was bought by the Manchester Originals for the 2022 season of The Hundred.^[19]

Playing for Sussex against Leicestershire on 26 June 2024, Robinson conceded 43 runs off one over in what was the most expensive over in the history of the County Championship.^[20]

International career

On 29 May 2020, Robinson was named in a 55-man group of players to begin training ahead of international fixtures starting in England following the COVID-19 pandemic.^[21][22] On 17 June 2020, he was included in England's 30-man squad to start training behind closed doors for the Test series against the West Indies.^[23][24] On 4 July 2020, Robinson was named as one of the nine reserve players for the first Test match of the series.^[25][26] He was then named in England's squad for the second Test match of the series,^[27] his maiden call-up to the senior team.^[28] On 12 August 2020, he was also named in England's squad for the second Test against Pakistan.^[29]

In December 2020, Robinson was named as one of seven reserve players in England's Test squad for their series against Sri Lanka.^[30] In January 2021, he was also named as a reserve player in England's Test squad for their series against India.^[31]

In May 2021, Robinson was included in England's Test squad for their series against New Zealand.^[32] He made his Test debut on 2 June 2021, for England against New Zealand.^[33] His first Test international wicket was Tom Latham.^[34] On the day of his international Test debut, Robinson apologised for making racist and sexist tweets in 2012 and 2013.^[35][36] The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) launched an investigation, on 3 June 2021, to consider whether Robinson should be sanctioned for the tweets.^[37][38] On 6 June 2021, Robinson was removed from the England squad for the second Test match of the series, and suspended from all formats of international cricket by the ECB.^[39] Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, described the ECB sanctions as "over the top". He asked the ECB to reconsider the suspension, saying: "They are also a decade old and written by a teenager". Later, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that he agreed with Dowden.^[40] On 3 July 2021, Robinson was cleared to return to cricket, following a hearing by the Cricket Discipline Commission.^[41] Later the same month, Robinson was named in England's Test squad for their series against India.^[42] In the first match, Robinson took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, with 5/85.^[43] Robinson was England's leading wicket taker in the summer (28 wickets with an average of 19.60); he was named as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year in April 2022.^[44]

Personal life

Robinson was educated at The King's School, Canterbury.^[45] He is coached by his stepfather Paul Farbrace at Sussex.^[46]

Notes

1. Ollie Rayner scored a century on debut in a tour match against Sri Lanka in 2006.

References

1. "Ollie Robinson profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos".
2. "Former Kent cricketer Oliver Robinson joins Yorkshire". Thanet Gazette.
3. "Yorkshire sack fast bowler Oliver Robinson for 'unprofessional actions'". Telegraph.co.uk. 30 July 2014.
4. "Yorkshire Country Cricket Club: Gillespie's tough call to axe Robinson". York Press.
5. "The Home of CricketArchive".
6. "Robinson handed Sussex chance".
7. "Sussex sign former Yorkshire seamer". The Argus.
8. Daivanayagam, Srihari (26 April 2015). "Robinson debut century completes amazing Sussex last stand". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
9. "County Championship: Robinson hits debut ton in Sussex rescue". BBC Sport.
10. "LV=CC: Ollie Robinson records career-best figures foor Sussex".
11. "Ollie Robinson has slotted seamlessly into life at Sussex after Yorkshire sacking".
12. "Sussex's Ollie Robinson signs new three-year contract". Sky Sports.
13. "Ollie Robinson appointed Championship vice-captain". Sussex CCC. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
14. "County Championship: Robinson bowls Sussex to win against Glamorgan". BBC Sport. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
15. "Ollie Robinson raises England hopes with nine-wicket haul". The Times. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
16. "Ollie Robinson: England bowler to take 'short break' from cricket". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
17. "Ollie Robinson taking 'short break' from cricket after social media furore". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
18. "The Hundred: England bowler Ollie Robinson signs up for inaugural season". BBC Sport. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
19. "The Hundred 2022: latest squads as Draft picks revealed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
20. "England bowler Robinson hit for 43 in historic over". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
21. "England Men confirm back-to-training group". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
22. "Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett left out as England name 55-man training group". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
23. "England announce 30-man training squad ahead of first West Indies Test". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
24. "Moeen Ali back in Test frame as England name 30-man training squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
25. "England name squad for first Test against West Indies". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
26. "England v West Indies: Dom Bess in squad, Jack Leach misses out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
27. "England v West Indies: Joe Denly left out of second Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
28. "England name squad for second West Indies Test". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
29. "England Men name squad for second Pakistan Test". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
30. "Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer rested for England Test tour of Sri Lanka". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
31. "India v England: Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer return to Joe Root's squad for first two Tests in Ahmedabad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
32. "England Men name squad for LV= Insurance Test Series against New Zealand". England and Wales Cricket Board. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
33. "1st Test, London, Jun 2 - 6 2021, New Zealand tour of England". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
34. "Ollie Robinson becomes 100th English player to make his debut at Lord's". SportsTiger. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
35. "Ollie Robinson apologises after racist and sexist tweets resurface during Test debut". Wisden. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
36. "Ollie Robinson tweets: England debutant apologises for historical racist and sexist posts". BBC Sport. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
37. Nick Hoult and Tim Wigmore (3 June 2021). "Ollie Robinson to be dropped by England for second Test in wake of racist tweets bombshell". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
38. Simon Burnton (3 June 2021). "ECB to punish Ollie Robinson for racist and sexist tweets". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
39. "Ollie Robinson: England bowler suspended for historical tweets". BBC Sport. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
40. "Ollie Robinson: PM Boris Johnson supports Oliver Dowden's comments that ECB 'has gone too far'". BBC Sport. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
41. "Ollie Robinson cleared for return to cricket after receiving fine and suspension for historic tweets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
42. "England Men announce 17-player squad for opening two Tests against India". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
43. "Ollie Robinson takes five wickets as India are all out for 278". The Times. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
44. Wisden Staff (20 April 2022). "Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma named among Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
45. "Ollie Robinson". ESPNcricinfo. 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
46. Stephan Shemilt (31 May 2021). "Ollie Robinson: Sacked by Yorkshire, picked by England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2021.

External links

• Ollie Robinson at ESPNcricinfo