Ollie Robinson appointed Sussex’s Championship vice-captain

The 27-year old seamer made his first-class debut for Sussex in 2015 and was awarded his county cap in 2019

County Championship 2021 team guide: Sussex

The Cricketer's County Preview Podcasts: Sussex

Ollie Robinson has been appointed Sussex’s vice-captain for the 2021 County Championship season.

The 27-year old seamer, who will support club captain Ben Brown on and off the field, made his first-class debut for Sussex in 2015 and was awarded his county cap in 2019.

Robinson has taken 221 wickets at an average of 22.06 for the county while no seamer has taken more wickets than him (137) in the last two, full County Championship seasons.

Robinson was recently included in England’s 55-man training squad in summer 2020 and was named as a reserve for the recent Test series against India.

Commenting on his appointment, Robinson said: "I’m immensely proud to be named vice-captain. It’s a very exciting time at Sussex with a lot of talented youth coming through, and I’m looking forward to working alongside Ben [Brown] and the new coaching team and taking this team forward."

Meanwhile, club captain, Ben Brown, added: "I’m extremely proud of Ollie. Over the last few years he has lead the group extremely well and is a huge presence in our dressing room. He has come a long way on and off the field throughout his time at Sussex.

"Hopefully the vice captaincy is the start of a great summer for Ollie and one in which he will play for England and continue to dominate for Sussex."

Head coach, Ian Salisbury, was also full of praise for Robinson, commenting on his leadership skills and cricket brain.

"Ollie Robinson has only impressed me since I came back to the club. It’s not just his bowling that has made a mark, it’s his leadership skills, which have been amazing in and out of the changing room," he said. "Combine that with a cricket brain that is second-to-none, and that’s why we want him to be vice-captain of the Championship side.

"Ollie follows in the footsteps of another seam-bowling, Sussex vice-captain in James Kirtley, and having the two of them guiding our crop of young seamers means they couldn’t be in better hands. Hopefully this is the start of a massive summer for Ollie in which he’ll go on to be the first Sussex cricketer of mine and James’ era to make his debut for England."

Subscribe today and receive The Cricketer’s centenary issue – six issues for £19.21. Click here