Robinson sets sights on Ashes tour next year

Sussex's Ollie Robinson has his sights set on a return to Test cricket for England and to achieve his lifelong dream of an Ashes series victory in Australia next year.

The 30-year-old has 20 Test caps but has not featured for the national team since February against India.

Pace bowler Robinson took 39 wickets at an average of 25.53 as Sussex won the County Championship Division Two title this season and secured a place back in the top tier.

In the short-term he is aiming to play T20 and T10 cricket over the winter but his long-term target is to be back in the England fold.

"I'm really going to ramp up my fitness - my goal is to play Test cricket for England," he told BBC Radio Sussex.

"That's where my head's at at the minute – get as fit as possible, be ready for April when we return to Division One and put in good performances again. Try my best to get back in the team and that's all I can do really.

"The Ashes down under is something I've always wanted to win. From being a little kid to now, every morning I wake up and that's a goal of mine.

"That's what I've got inside me, that drive. And hopefully I can get back there next year."

England begin a series of three Test matches in Pakistan in Multan on Monday and the Ashes tour of Australia begins in November next year.

Robinson has taken 76 wickets in 20 Tests for England at an average of 22.92 since making his debut against New Zealand at Lord's in 2021. He played in the 2023 Ashes series, which ended in a draw with Australia retaining the urn.

Sussex won the Division Two title by 20 points, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the T20 Blast, losing to eventual winners Gloucestershire by eight wickets on Finals Day at Edgbaston.

And Robinson believes his team are strong enough to compete in Division One next year.

"It's been fun to be around here for a year, I don't think I’ve had a whole year here for five or six years," he said.

"We've still got a very young team. We surprised people this year and I think we’ll do the same next year."