Eye on the Tigers for Robinson
Mark Robinson will have one eye on his beloved Hull City over a bumper Bank Holiday weekend of sport
Sussex coach Mark Robinson heads into a sporting weekend which will define the mood of his summer.
Robinson’s Sharks take on in-form Somerset in a televised Friends Provident Trophy quarter-final tomorrow before his attention turns to another big match beamed to the nation - Hull City’s knife-edge Barclays Premier League encounter with champions Manchester United.
On paper both Sussex and his beloved Tigers are distinct outsiders - Somerset have won all seven of their completed FP Trophy matches this season while City, needing a win to ensure top-flight survival, have tasted league victory just twice since October.
Robinson was in Taunton just over a year ago when his football team clinched a Championship play-off final place with victory over Watford and was one of the 40,000 at Wembley to witness the historic promotion this corresponding weekend.
This time, however, the fixture list means, fine weather permitting tomorrow, he will be watching Sunday’s survival bid in solitary confinement at home.
“I was hoping for a northern tie in this competition because that might have given me a chance of getting there,” Robinson said.
“As it is I will be watching at home on my own. I think it is a game for me to watch reclusively because it could be a day of strong emotions and the family know to keep out of my way.
“But there’s always hope and if we had talked about being where we are now back in August we would have accepted it.
“In fact, there is a lot more optimism now after the way we played last weekend at Bolton. That’s the first time we have dominated a game for quite a while.”
His most immediate concern, however, is whether England all-rounder Luke Wright is available tomorrow following a toe injury.
Give Marcus Trescothick a start at your peril: the former England batsman already has 476 FP Trophy runs to his name
Wright’s explosive batting catapulted him onto the international scene two years ago but he has been as equally impressive with ball in hand this year.
“He is only 24,” Robinson said. “People forget that. And he’s bowled really well for us this year.
“He has come back from England and done brilliantly for us, worked hard on his bowling and is building up some form going into the World Twenty20.”
Although recent results suggest Somerset are strong favourites against a developing Sussex, the omens are good for the visitors.
“It’s a tough draw,” admitted Robinson. “They are probably the form team in the competition but we have a very good one-day record at Taunton and I believe we have won our last six matches there.”
Somerset’s turnaround in one-day fortunes is down to a thorough winter analysis of their previous failings and a stack of runs from Marcus Trescothick.
The former England opener is comfortably the competition’s top scorer this season with a tally of 476, and he has formed a dynamic new partnership with wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter at the top of the order.
“He is an incredible player who makes the game look so easy and that helps the person standing at the other end,” said Kieswetter.
“Opening with him has relaxed me and allowed me to develop my game in terms of pacing an innings rather than just going gung ho early on.
“He can score 80 off 50 balls, which for our level is outstanding, and that helps set up games.”
South African-born Kieswetter, 21, has contributed 289 runs in FP Trophy action as he looks to compile a case for England selection when he qualifies next February.
Dominic Cork's renewal at Hampshire was underlined in their facile final group victory over Nottinghamshire on Wednesday
“Playing for England is 100% definitely what I want to do,” he added. “I need to put in consistent performances and show the selectors I am desperate to play and ultimately good enough.”
In tomorrow’s other last-eight matches, holders Essex return to Old Trafford with the upper hand over group rivals Lancashire, having secured a five-wicket win over the Lightning on Wednesday.
England Test batsman Alastair Cook hit a half-century in that win - the Eagles have inflicted both Lancashire’s defeats this summer - and will hope for further runs to press his case as a one-day player.
Reigning Twenty20 champions Middlesex, meanwhile, travel to the Rose Bowl to take on Hampshire, for whom veteran Dominic Cork has enjoyed a new lease of life.
Cork, 37, has been particularly impressive in this competition for his new county, claiming 14 wickets in seven matches at 16.57 apiece, with an economy rate well under four per over.
Gloucestershire's quarter-final with Nottinghamshire has been rearranged for June 16, owing to the NatWest series one-day match taking place at Bristol this weekend.
