Robinson has been out of the game since being sacked as England Women coach in 2019
Mark Robinson, the World Cup-winning former coach of England Women, looks set to be appointed as Warwickshire’s new head coach.
He will, if confirmed, replace Jim Troughton who was sacked at the end of a 2020 season which saw the club finish without a victory in the Bob Willis Trophy and fail to reach the quarter-final stages of the T20 Blast.
Robinson, who led England to the 2017 Women’s World Cup, has previously coached Sussex, where he enjoyed great success, winning back-to-back County Championships in 2006 and 2007, the T20 competition in 2009, and List A titles in 2006 (Friends Provident Trophy), 2008 and 2009 (Pro 40 League).
While Warwickshire had expressed a hope of completing the appointment before Christmas, ESPNcricinfo understands the process was delayed when another coach on the shortlist suffered some bad news about a health issue in their family.
Robinson’s arrival marks something of a change of approach at Edgbaston. Their last few appointments – dating back to the sacking of Mark Greatbatch in 2007 – have all been former Warwickshire players, with Ashley Giles, Dougie Brown and Troughton having periods at the helm. Robinson offers fresh perspective and inherits a support staff that includes three former Warwickshire players in Graeme Welch (bowling), Tony Frost (batting) and Ian Westwood (second XI).
Further changes are not anticipated, with Robinson joining a relatively new management team which includes chief executive Stuart Cain, who started in July 2020, and director of sport Paul Farbrace, who joined ahead of the 2019 season.
As well as winning multiple trophies, Robinson has shown an astute eye for new signings, bringing in Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson – no relation – during his time at Sussex. He also demonstrated the courage to make tough decisions, such as moving on from Charlotte Edwards during his time as England Women’s coach, and respect for his sensitive handling of the mental health issues suffered by Michael Yardy and Sarah Taylor. Promoted, relegated; sacked and lauded: he has, pretty much, seen it all.
But this role offers a significant fresh start for him. He was left licking his wounds after being sacked by the ECB in August 2019 after England were overwhelmed in the Ashes by a vastly superior Australia side. It was just two years after the World Cup triumph and less than a year since leading them to the final of the 2018 World T20. He has not held a high-profile role since, though he was recently connected with the position of Bangladesh Women’s head coach.
Robinson, now aged 54, previously enjoyed a long playing career as a seam bowler with Northants, Yorkshire and Sussex. He is likely to be joining a club in something of a transition. The likes of Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Jeetan Patel and Tim Ambrose have all left the club over the last couple of years with Warwickshire believing they have a talented core of young players with their careers in front of them.
In Robinson they will find a quietly spoken, studious coach with a gentle manner and commitment to the welfare of his squad on and off the pitch. But he’ll also have high expectations. It looks a decent combination.
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo