The ECB has today announced that Sussex’s Professional Cricket Manager Mark Robinson has been appointed as the new England Women’s Head Coach.
Robinson, who joined Sussex as a player in 1997, went into coaching at the club in 2003 and in his first season as Head Coach in 2006, Sussex achieved the double, by winning both the County Championship and the C&G Trophy.
Sussex retained the Championship in 2007, with Robinson then guiding the county to an unprecedented period of one-day success, winning the Pro40 leagues in both 2008 and 2009, and the Twenty20 Cup for the first time in 2009.
The 48-year-old also has experience of coaching England teams, having previously led the England Lions in Sri Lanka (2014) and South Africa (2015), and coached the England Under-19s team at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2010.
Robinson, who will join the ECB next month in time to take charge of the England Women’s team before the tour to South Africa in the New Year, said, “I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity. It is obvious to everybody how quickly women’s cricket has grown in recent years – the game is now truly professional in every respect – so to have the chance to play a part in the next chapter for the England women’s team is a great honour. I’m also really looking forward to the challenge of coaching in an international environment again.
“It does mean I will be leaving Sussex, and I would like to thank everyone who I have worked and played alongside at the club, as well as the supporters, for providing me with so many happy memories. To leave a job I enjoy, a club I love and so many people I respect and admire is going to be a wrench.”
“There are so many people I need to thank in the next few weeks who have made my time at the club since 1997 a special one. The club and the supporters will always have a special place in my heart and I wish the club stability and every success for the future.”
A former right-arm seam bowler, Robinson played 229 First Class matches and made 242 List A appearances during a 15 year county cricket career, representing Northamptonshire, Yorkshire and Sussex from 1987-2002. After retiring from playing professional cricket, he took over from Peter Moores as the Professional Cricket Manager at Sussex in 2005, and has an impressive coaching record with the county, overseeing two County Championship victories in 2006 and 2007, in addition to several limited-overs trophies – including the C&G Trophy (2006), the NatWest Pro40 League (2008 and 2009) and the Twenty20 Cup (2009).
Sussex Chairman Jim May said, “I would like to pay tribute to Mark for the outstanding contribution he has made to Sussex Cricket. As a player he was an invaluable member of the team who laid the foundations for our success in the early 2000s.
“Since his appointment, Robbo has been the most successful coach in Sussex Cricket history, winning the County Championship twice and many one-day competitions including our first T20 trophy. Mark leaves with our grateful thanks and best wishes.”
ECB’s Director of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said: “We are absolutely delighted to appoint Mark as the Head Coach of the England women’s team. He has a superb coaching record with Sussex, experience of working with England teams, a reputation for getting the best out of players, and is highly regarded as one of the best coaches working in the men’s professional game.
“The next 18 months are hugely important for the England women’s team and the players must quickly get back to winning ways in South Africa in February. Starting in India in March 2016, we will be competing in three ICC world events in the next three years and I fully believe Mark has the skill set and experience to lead the team to sustained success on their exciting journey as professional cricketers.
“The fact that we have been able to attract a coach of Mark’s calibre is another demonstration that England women’s cricket continues to hit new heights. It has been a highly competitive recruitment process, and we are all thrilled to have him on board.”
Sussex’s Chief Executive Zac Toumazi said, “Today’s news has mixed emotions for us as a club. We are sorry to see Mark Robinson leave us as he has been a loyal servant to Sussex Cricket. I am sure he will be a fantastic asset at the ECB.
Mark Davis
“Following an ongoing review of our professional cricket structure, we are delighted to announce that Mark Davis will assume the role of Head Coach. This is a fantastic opportunity for Mark and chance for him to work closely with our newly-appointed captain Luke Wright.”
Davis made his Sussex debut in 2001 and took 188 wickets with his off-spin and made over 2000 runs across all three formats. He was appointed Second Team Coach in 2005 and has since been involved in continuing the Sussex tradition of bringing through homegrown players.
Davis said of his appointment, “I’m very excited and honoured to be taking over as the new Head Coach at Sussex, and continuing the work that Peter Moores initially began, and that Mark Robinson continued so brilliantly. I’d like to thank Mark for everything and wish him well for his future role.
“We will be working hard to continue with the values that Sussex stands for and to ensure that the county competes at the forefront of English cricket.
“We have a fantastic squad which has a good mix of youth and experience and we have some exciting challenges ahead. I am looking forward to working alongside our new captain Luke Wright.”
Mark Robinson’s appointment as Head Coach follows the announcement at the end of September that the England women’s cricket team would undergo a coaching restructure, with Paul Shaw stepping down from his position as Head of England Women’s Performance – a role which has been made redundant.
England women will next be in action in February 2016 when they will travel to South Africa to play a three match One-Day International series and three match Twenty20 International series. The England women’s squad for this tour will be announced early next year.
Report thanks to the ECB and Sussex CCC
