World Cup winner enjoying coaching at a different level
When cricket – we hope – resumes this summer, there will be some youngsters and 50-something club players around who can claim they’ve had with one-to-one coaching from a World Cup winner.
That’s because Mark Robinson, whose four years as coach of the England women’s team included World Cup success in 2017, is back doing what he loves best.
Since restrictions were eased, Robinson has been running one-to-one sessions in Arundel – where he has joined the board of the Castle cricket club – and Horsham with whoever wants to hire him.
“It’s been great working for a change with different people other than elite cricketers,” he said. “When lockdown started all the consultancy work I had was cancelled and initially I enjoyed the break. It was the first time since I became a pro at Yorkshire more than 30 years ago that I’ve had a proper break from cricket.
“But as soon as I was able to I wanted to work again. I’ve done sessions with all sorts – an 11-year-old to a 54-year-old. It has been really enjoyable, I love being on the shop floor if you like.
“The break was nice, but it’s been good to be busy again.”
Robinson, 53, has had a few offers since he left his role with the England women’s team last August in the wake of their Ashes defeat.
Friends such as former Sussex chief executive Zac Toumazi and Alan Smith, the former Crystal Palace boss who represented several top cricketers, counselled him to take his time before deciding on his next move.
Now he says he is ready to get back in at an elite level, perhaps in a head coach or director of cricket role.
“I’ve always been busy, restless even, as a player and a coach so when people I respect who have experience of being in my position tell me to wait and not rush into the first thing I was offered, that was quite tough,” he said.
Before lockdown Robinson did some work with Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire England’s deaf team.
Talking to 500 people about leadership “was great because it took me right out of my comfort zone” and he would not rule out going overseas to work at elite level.
He is keen to write a book about his cricket life, which included a very successful stint as Sussex coach and, of course, his England career.
For now, though, Robinson is in his element passing on his knowledge to cricketers of all abilities.
“It’s been a while since I did a normal day’s work if you know what I mean – a 9-5 – and not upsetting people when you tell them why they are not playing is great!”