‘These are the days you live for’ - Ollie Robinson on Sussex’s success in 2024

Having been excluded from England’s Test squad since their series defeat in India in February 2024, Robinson played a full season with Sussex, interrupted only by The Hundred.

The 30-year-old ended up making 12 Championship appearances, taking 39 wickets at an average of 25.53 and sending down 97 maiden overs - the fourth-highest figure of any County Championship bowler in 2024 - to help Sussex to glory.

“It's been fun to be around the club this year,” said Robinson.

“To win games of cricket for Sussex, the team that gave me an opportunity, it’s been phenomenal for me.”

“I don’t think I've played a full season here for five or six years. Obviously, I would love to be playing for England, but to be here challenging for the title, these are the days you live for.

“No one cares about your average, your stats, whatever it is. You care about silverware, series wins, whatever it may be. So these days are really special.”

Despite making his highest Test score with the bat, Robinson went wicketless in his only appearance in England’s series in India last winter, with questions about his fitness rearing up again.

After missing out on home Tests against the West Indies and Sri Lanka this summer, a typically outspoken Robinson poured his energy into Sussex’s success instead.

“When England ask you to come and bowl a bit faster and a bit harder, to then play 13 or 14 County Championship games a year is hard,” said Robinson.

“For me, the last half of the season has been about getting Sussex promoted. If I took wickets or not, it was about putting in those special performances at special times.

“If I was thinking about England, I probably would have missed one or two more games. But obviously, with my passion for Sussex and wanting to get promoted, that was where my head was at.

“But I think the more I played, the better I did bowl,” Robinson added.

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“And the last probably four or five games, my body's been, not hanging on, but ready for October. I've had no injuries, no niggles at all. But just that tiredness, that constant fatigue like after Finals Day. But it's been great to just get back on the park for a long period of time.”

Amidst the achievements of the last few months, Robinson’s teammates have been keen to praise the availability and effort of the talismanic bowler.

He recently made his 100th First Class appearance in Sussex’s innings win against Glamorgan, and having now taken 435 wickets in 102 games shows no signs of letting up.

It has been a long journey since Robinson made his debut in Sussex’s previous season in Division One, however, in 2015.

“It feels like a long time ago,” admitted Robinson.

“It's been amazing to be a part of this group these last couple of years. We've come from a squad probably averaging the age of 18 to Division Two champions. It's a testament to the coaching to the coaching staff to get to this place. You can see the delight from the fans, and the young players.”

Robinson was just a 21-year-old during Sussex’s 2015 season, the junior member of an attack featuring Steve Magoffin, Chris Liddle, Ajmal Shahzad and Chris Jordan.

Now, his duty in Division One will be quite the opposite, guiding the likes of seamers Henry Crocombe and Sean Hunt, and all-rounders Bertie Foreman, Archie Lenham, and Danial Ibrahim.

“It's natural. You spend so much time on a team, and you grow with age. You have to take those senior roles,” said Robinson.

“I think having John Simpson this year has been immense for us. To work alongside each other, bounce ideas off each other, also with Farbs and Tymal [Mills] in T20, you can see the experience we've got now is coming through and see the younger lads just flourishing.

“You look at someone like James Coles this year, he's been unbelievable. Some of the knocks he's played, the way he's gone about playing, it's stuff that international players do and obviously we have been lucky enough to have him, and Jack Carson, all year. Tom Alsop, again, the experience is invaluable.”

The post-season love-in between Sussex’s squad is no coincidence, with Paul Farbrace’s tenure at Hove being marked by a close relationship amongst the players and staff.

This was marked by a positive pre-season trip to India and tough fights during this season, particularly noticeable in a 21-run win over Yorkshire at Hove in May.

“This is probably the one of the best changing rooms I've been a part of, to be honest,” said Robinson.

“I've been in quite a few, but this is really special. The bond that we've all got with each other outside of cricket, let alone on the cricket field, is just really special.

“I think you look at 90% of these lads that we're friends for life, and that's how we win tight games of cricket together because everyone's fighting for each other, everyone's putting every last ounce of sweat into the game, and that's how we've come out on top this year.”

Ultimately, Robinson’s aim will be to return to the England squad, having described it as “something that every day I wake up, is the goal of mine.”

Asked about his plans for the winter to aid that ambition, he was open about exploring all possibilities in global T20 and T10 cricket.

“Hopefully, some franchise games will come up,” said Robinson.

“[I’ve] got my agent on that at the moment, and then just to get as fit as possible. My goal is to get better at all formats. I think this year has given me the boost that I could play white-ball cricket [for England] as well.

“For me at the moment, I just want to string some performances together next year and see what happens.

“My goal is to play Test cricket for England. That's where my head is, get as fit as possible, be ready for April's return as a Division One team, and that's all I can do.”