Ollie Robinson

Ollie Robinson again illustrated the quality player Durham have on their books as he continued to shine for the club with the bat, surpassing his first-class best score twice alongside another impressive campaign with the gloves.

Robinson began the season in impressive form, scoring five consecutive half-centuries at the beginning of the campaign and went on to make 871 runs at an average of 48 with a strike rate of 84.

His scores of 60 and 52 helped Durham to a draw against Warwickshire before making 55 and 67* in Durham’s opening win over Worcestershire. Robinson then scored 90 in a draw against Essex at Seat Unique Riverside.

Against Lancashire in Blackpool, Robinson took a quite magnificent catch off Ben Raine’s bowling, diving away to his left to have Matty Hurst brilliantly caught for 20 before going on to produce a stellar innings with the bat.

The wicketkeeper-batter then made 171* in vain in the fourth innings, beating his career-best for the first time in 2024.

Robinson eventually reached his first century of the season off 132 balls, having scored 90 runs in the morning, with a sweep off Nathan Lyon in the over before lunch. Robinson and David Bedingham had scored 150 runs off 30 overs in the session.

The 26-year-old made 46 in Durham’s two-day victory over Somerset before scoring his career best of 198 from 209 balls in the draw against Essex at the Cloud County Ground.

Robinson picked up where he had left off, scoring runs at ease and refusing to allow the bowlers to build any pressure.

He passed his previous best of 171 and looked set for 200 before trying to force a cut shot but edged behind. He was given a generous applause by the crowd on his return to the dressing room.

The former Kent ‘keeper played in all 14 of Durham’s T20 Blast games with a best of 41 coming against Worcestershire.

Robinson started to tick and smashed Brett D’Oliveira for six as Durham passed 100 before he then struck two sixes from an Ethan Brookes over.