“I am 30 now and I nonetheless really feel younger, however 30 in sport’s really not that younger anymore,” Robinson stated at Sussex’s pre-season media day. “So I really feel prefer it’s the final summer time the place perhaps I get any slack, for those who like. Going ahead I’ve to carry out, I’ve to be injury-free and show to those who I’m the best particular person for the job, as a result of there’s a variety of good seamers within the nation now, a variety of youthful seamers are coming by means of. So it is most likely a make-or-break summer time for me.
“I do not thoughts that [having a point to prove]. I feel it provides me one thing to drive ahead to, one thing to interact my thoughts going ahead. It is not that I am not pushed usually however when you could have such an enormous level to show, you must actually give attention to it, in any other case it could slip away.”
“For me, it is not essentially serious about bowling quick. It is that power off the pitch that you just see after I’m bowling nicely. Due to that, the speeds are up. Pace is not one thing I will probably be specializing in purely, it is getting that snap again, that rhythm again, and hopefully the speeds will come from it. Bowling exhausting for so long as potential, all recreation, is one thing that Stokesy and Baz have requested me to do as nicely. That’s what I will probably be aiming to do.”
Robinson, who stated that he had been present process remedy to cope with a few of these private points, admitted that he had made himself a goal by not backing up his bravado with on-field performances.
“I feel after I come out and say so many issues within the media and run my mouth a bit, for those who like, then you must anticipate backlash when you do not present up. I am nicely conscious that that may occur. Like I stated, you say issues on a regular basis and if they do not come off, you look foolish, and I feel that is a kind of events the place the media are most likely allowed to have my badge. I did not carry out to the extent I wished to and it is disappointing for me, however all I can do now could be attempt to get it proper.”
Robinson is anticipated to play as much as 5 of Sussex’s seven video games within the opening block of County Championship fixtures, and will then make his first T20 outing since 2021 within the Blast, with England not again in Take a look at motion till July with the arrival of West Indies. He stated that his aim for the summer time was “firstly to play some cricket” after the dearth of game-time left him feeling “a bit stagnant” in India.
“4 or 5 video games for Sussex could be good. Hopefully I can get by means of these and hit the English summer time flying,” he stated. “For me this 12 months, it is about taking part in as a lot cricket as potential, getting again to a cheerful place and having fun with cricket once more.
“It is received to the purpose now the place I really feel I’ve received a bit stagnant. The physique wasn’t shifting as rapidly as I might have appreciated through the recreation in India. It’s a must to play cricket if you wish to play on the highest stage. You possibly can’t simply dip out and in, it is a kind of sports activities. When you find yourself on the sphere you realise how intense the sport really is. When you find yourself off the sphere watching you assume ‘ah, that does not look too unhealthy’. In India that most likely caught up with me.”
He added that, regardless of a troublesome 12 months, he could be going into the season hoping to “change the narrative” round his dedication to taking part in for England.
“In my head and my coronary heart I am giving all the things I’ve received. I am following the programme England give me on a regular basis and I am doing all the things I am requested to do. Perhaps I am too laid-back at instances, too horizontal, however I would not be the place I’m at this time if I wasn’t like that. I am attempting as exhausting as I can to present all the things I’ve received, I am keen about taking part in for England and it is the one factor I actually care about. I’m attempting to vary the narrative that it appears to be like like generally I do not care.”
Alan Gardner is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick