Robinson arrives at vanguard of change for women

The first was of the joy of the Yorkshire players and coaches, who celebrated a second successive title in front of the Headingley crowd.

The second was of the dignity shown in defeat by Sussex coach Mark Robinson, whose side were relegated by Yorkshire’s 100-run win.

As the celebrations raged around him, Robinson cut a dejected but also a highly impressive figure at the post-match interviews.

He paid tribute to Yorkshire, the county of his birth, and freely admitted that Sussex had not been good enough over the course of the year.

Robinson batted off questions concerning his own position with good humour and spoke with a smile on the outside, if not on the inside.

You find out about people at times like that, and it was impossible not to hope that he flourished in his efforts to lead Sussex back into Division One at the first attempt.

That responsibility now belongs to Mark Davis after Robinson’s appointment as head coach of the England women’s team.

At first glance it might be considered a surprising development, particularly given that Robinson had been involved with Sussex since 1997 as a player or coach. The ties run deep for a man who hails from Hull, the former pace bowler having played 90 first-class games for Yorkshire between 1991 and 1995.

Robinson, 48, led Sussex to two Championships and four one-day trophies and was as much a part of the furniture at Hove as the pin-striped deckchairs at the Cromwell Road end.

But I understand that changes to the coaching structure were already afoot following last summer’s relegation, and that Robinson would likely have moved into a new position as director of cricket.

Consequently, he would have been less hands-on and less involved in the day-to-day running of the first XI, a prospect that would not have appealed as much.

Although fiercely loyal to Sussex, Robinson is ambitious and was no doubt ready for a new challenge.

He was among those interviewed for the England men’s job in 2014 when Peter Moores was re-appointed, and last winter he led England Lions on their tour of South Africa.

Clare Connor, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s head of women’s cricket, who knows Robinson well, having played for the Sussex women, had stated that international experience would be key for the new England women’s coach.

Robinson does not have that experience, but he is the next best thing and his appointment might still be considered a coup.

These are delicate times for the England women’s team, times when a man of Robinson’s experience could well be worth their weight in gold.

The Ashes have just been lost, resulting in former coach Paul Shaw leaving his post, and Robinson’s first task will be an important tour of South Africa in February, followed by the world T20 in India, where a successful showing will be expected.

Furthermore, a new professional era for the women’s sport was announced last year by the ECB, including significant pay rises for leading players.

Applications to be part of a six-club women’s Super League are in the process of being submitted, and Robinson arrives at the vanguard of change.

A professional coach for a professional era – and professionalism is perhaps the biggest quality that Robinson will bring.

Although an affable character, something that made him popular with the Yorkshire supporters, Robinson does not suffer fools and can bring about the necessary transformation.

He will toughen things up, not least in terms of training and preparation, and will make the players understand the need to be accountable for performances.

Robinson already has a keen interest in women’s cricket (his daughter, Ellie, plays for Sussex girls), and he will give the players confidence to go and express themselves, something that appeared to be lacking at times in the Ashes.

Robinson, who is believed to have beaten the former Sussex captain Chris Adams to the women’s job, has taken a courageous plunge.

His gut instinct told him to try something different, to leave behind the familiarity of Hove, and there will be keen interest in his progress – not least here in Yorkshire.

As much as anything can be certain in professional sport, this at least feels like a coach and an organisation coming together at just the right time.

Robinson perhaps needed a change as much as England need to change.

Let us wish him and his side every success.