Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson is ready to take his chance in a potential “shootout” for the England gloves this summer.
With Ben Foakes yet to match imperious glovework with consistent runs and Jonny Bairstow potentially at a career crossroads following a lean tour of India, there are a number of contenders eager to push to the front of the queue.
Foakes’ Surrey team-mate Jamie Smith has no shortage of admirers, Somerset’s James Rew enjoyed a superb breakout season in 2023 and white-ball regular Phil Salt is keen to make the move across formats.
But there is also a compelling candidate at Chester-le-Street. Robinson was outstanding as Durham stormed to the Division Two title last season, scoring three centuries and 931 runs at a strike-rate of 88.66 to mark himself out as a ‘Bazball’ natural. In the field he contributed 37 catches and 10 stumpings.
That won him a place on England Lions’ winter series against India A and the 25-year-old is not shying away from the possibility of a swift promotion ahead of Durham’s top-flight return against Hampshire on Friday.
“You see articles all the time, people putting stuff online, and it sounds like the media think there’s going to be changes with England,” he told the PA news agency.
“Whether it’s me or someone else, who knows, but that’s an exciting place to be at the start of the season. It’s a bit of a shootout in a way.
“Things like the Lions call-up show you you’re not that far away. It might just be about who starts the best. That’s not me putting pressure on myself but it is an exciting opportunity to really put your name in the hat if something was to happen and changes are to be made.
“Coaches talk about having healthy competition all the time and that’s what drives people onwards, knowing someone is on your tail. I’m used to that, before I was here I was at Kent and I had Jordan Cox and Sam Billings around me so I’ve always had that feeling of trying to force my way in.”
Robinson is also pleased to be coming through at a time when England’s attacking philosophy, led by head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, chimes with his own instincts.
“That’s the way I’ve always played, I like to score runs and hit boundaries,” he said.
“I remember opening the batting for Kent against Northamptonshire once and getting 100 off 100 balls. Everyone was asking, ‘Are you in a rush to get somewhere?’.
“It’s a breath of fresh air for me that it’s becoming more the norm to go about things that way. I score quickly and hit the ball in areas that some players don’t. Batters are there to score runs, it doesn’t matter how many you face.”
Hope, Chase, Shepherd set for maiden stints in ILT20
Shai Hope, Romario Shepherd and Roston Chase led a number of West Indians set for maiden stints in the 2025 edition of the International League T20 (ILT20).
Hope, currently leading the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League in the absence of regular captain Imran Tahir, has been signed by the Dubai Capitals where he will team up with fellow new signing Obed McCoy and Rovman Powell who was retained.
Shepherd, a teammate of Hope with the Amazon Warriors, will join the likes of Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Dwayne Bravo and Nicholas Pooran with the MI Emirates.
Chase has been signed by the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, led by Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, and will be joined by fellow new signings Gudakesh Motie and Terrance Hinds.
Keemo Paul will also be a participant as he was signed by the Sharjah Warriors.
The 2025 ILT20 season is set to take place from January 11 to February 9 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
Head century helps Australia thrash England in first ODI
Travis Head's brilliant unbeaten 154 steered Australia to a dominant seven-wicket victory over England in the first one-day international at Trent Bridge.
The hosts collapsed at the end of their innings, and Head's sensational tally ensured it did not take long for Australia to reach their target, with 36 balls to spare.
Phil Salt (17) may have walked early, but England started well overall, with fellow opener Ben Duckett (95) and Will Jacks (62) pushing them forward.
However, Marnus Labuschagne (3-39) removed Duckett and then Harry Brook, captaining England for the first time, as their slide began.
Jacob Bethell took them over 300 with his 35, but Adam Zampa also took three wickets in his 100th ODI (3-49) as England finished all out for 315.
Head had a nervous moment with just six runs to his name as Brydon Carse dropped what would have been a spectacular one-handed catch, but he did not look back after that.
His knock included 20 fours and five sixes as he brought up his sixth ODI century, and with the help of Labushagne (77), he got the tourists over the line with ease.
Australia have a 1-0 lead in the series, with the next match taking place at Headingley on Saturday.
Data Debrief: England fail to end Australia dominance
England had put themselves in a great position to end Australia's 13-match winning streak in ODIs, but ultimately struggled to defend their target.
That was mainly down to Head's superb performance. Ricky Ponting was the player with the highest score for Australia in ODIs at Trent Bridge with 126 before his impressive knock.
It was also the tourists' highest successful ODI chase in England.
Latham and Williamson lead charge as New Zealand close gap on Sri Lanka
Tom Latham and Kane Williamson led the way as New Zealand moved to within just 50 runs of Sri Lanka on day two of the first Test in Galle.
Latham opened with 70 while Williamson notched 55 on the way to taking the Black Caps to 255-4 at stumps.
Sri Lanka resumed the first Test at 302-7, though just 15 minutes of play were possible during a rain-curtailed morning session. Nevertheless, it was long enough for New Zealand to bowl out their opponents for the loss of just three runs.
Latham led the Black Caps' revival with 70 from 111 balls, as Williamson also passed the half-century mark with his knock of 55 off 104 deliveries.
Dhananjaya de Silva looked to restore Sri Lanka's authority over proceedings when he dismissed Williamson and Rachin Ravindra in the space of two overs.
However, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell steadied the ship, with their unbeaten stand of 59 off 105 edging New Zealand closer to their opponents' tally.
Data Debrief: Half-century stands galore for resurgent Black Caps
Partnerships were crucial for New Zealand in their chase, with four 50-plus stands during the innings.
Latham and Devon Conway's opening stand of 63 got the ball rolling, while Latham and Williamson notched 73 from just 120 balls.
The Williamson-Ravindra stand of 51 took just 84 deliveries, and it remains to be seen how long Mitchell and Blundell will last when play resumes on Friday.
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