Sussex 17 for 0 trail Warwickshire 267 (Woakes 64, Smith 53, Webster 48, Crocombe 3-44) by 250 runs
For a small, tightly knit club, the ructions of the winter – which included calls led by a group of former players for resignations from the board – have been keenly felt. But that did not stop the members from turning up on day one with a renewed sense of optimism, one that was immediately rewarded as Sussex started strongly against a Warwickshire side that have themselves been tipped as title contenders.
Just over 1000 came in through the gates – many of them greeted with a warm smile by Sam, Sussex’s ubiquitous senior steward – as the return of cricket to the County Ground offered a chance to forget off-field travails. Old acquaintances were renewed amid handshakes and back slaps; in one case, this was accompanied by a meaningful look and a simple remark: “Another year.” Which might serve as a motto for county cricket itself.
Others were preparing to front up to the grim realities of Sussex’s financial plight, even as they settled into a deckchair at the Cromwell Road End: “I’ve got the annual report and accounts with me. Should make for interesting reading!”
Robinson’s key attributes – a high release point, nagging line and canny seam presentation – are still readily apparent. At 32, he has described himself as fit as he has ever been since his England debut in 2021. Having claimed a five-wicket haul at Grace Road, he picked up two of Warwickshire’s top five here – opener Alex Davies and the belligerent Beau Webster, just shy of fifty – while marshalling Sussex’s attack to good effect.
He only bowled 15 overs, across three spells, out of 79.4, although that is in keeping with his stated intention to moderate his workload and make it through as many games as possible (potentially all 14). Sussex shared it around in every sense, with eight bowlers used and the wickets divided among the four main seamers: Robinson, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Tom Price and Henry Crocombe.
They would surely have been hoping for more on a straw-coloured deck, having opted to bat on winning the toss. Davies was unable to negotiate Robinson’s opening spell, drawn into a push at one holding its line, and Dan Mousley could not back up last week’s 144 against Surrey, fencing Hudson-Prentice to second slip for 1. Sam Hain had got off the mark nicking Robinson through the cordon but when he chopped on in Price’s first over at the top of the hour, Warwickshire were 22 for 3.
They recovered to be 69 for 3 at lunch, opener Rob Yates and Webster – who clubbed James Coles back over his head for six – leading the initial rebuild. Yates was missed on 31 shortly after the resumption, a sharp chance above the head of second slip, but went to the same combination of bowler (Hudson-Prentice) and fielder (Clark) two overs later. Robinson was smacked through the covers on the up by Webster, but won their duel with a ball that nibbled the edge through to John Simpson, before Price induced another drag-on from Ed Barnard.
The salvage effort came from Woakes and Smith, who also played tidily for a half-century only to chip Crocombe tamely to midwicket. Crocombe’s pace helped clean up the tail, before bad light allowed Sussex’s openers to retreat to the dressing room after a brief examination. For now, the bright start continues.
Alan Gardner is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick
