Sport
16 November, 2023
Strong start for Colts’ all-rounder Dave Robinson
It’s safe to say Dave Robinson has hit the ground running with Colts Phelans as he looks to keep them in the premiership race. The Englishman continues a strong recent lineage at Colts, following in the footsteps of Ed Foreman, Callum Watts and...
It’s safe to say Dave Robinson has hit the ground running with Colts Phelans as he looks to keep them in the premiership race.
The Englishman continues a strong recent lineage at Colts, following in the footsteps of Ed Foreman, Callum Watts and Matt Scott last season.
However, early indications suggest Robinson’s batting and bowling prowess might usurp all of the trio, having enjoyed a stunning month of cricket to be a key factor in helping Colts get in to a solid run of form.
In seven games, Robinson has hit 182 runs at a healthy average of 30.3 — ranked seventh in the competition, while also taking seven wickets at an average of 25.
That included a knock of 46 in Colts’ loss against Maryborough, while he has tallied 148 runs in his last four innings, as well as four wickets, despite the team having taken just 15 wickets in that time frame.
It was a connection between Colts coach Wayne Stubbings and Robinson’s coach in England that helped lure Robinson to Australia, having previously played for Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club.
“My coach back home, Steve Chapman, is good friends with Wayne, and they used to run a business together where they did tours to and from England to Australia. So he put me in contact with Wayne, and he sorted the rest out from there,” he said.
All-rounder Robinson has the ability to bat at first drop, as well as take the new ball, and he is determined to showcase all of his talents for Colts.
“Going to a new club and being given a role of batting up the order, as well as taking the new ball, I want to perform as well as I can and show them that I’m here for a reason,” he said.
“I’d like to think that I’m good at what I do, and try be as confident as I can in my own ability.”
Although Robinson has excelled to start the season, he offered a fascinating insight into adapting to the pitches of the Maryborough District Cricket Association compared to pitches in England.
“It’s a bit difficult here. Conditions are very different compared to back home, there isn’t as much bounce in the pitches and they are a bit slower, so the ball doesn’t come on as much,” he said.
“It’s a bit more back foot cricket compared to front foot cricket when I’m batting. I’ve adjusted pretty well to it, and with Wayne coaching, it’s been great and I’ve been able to get used to it.”
However, the best aspect for Robinson has been how welcoming his teammates have been.
Already, Robinson has established himself as one of a fierce Colts bowling triumvirate alongside captain Dayne Baker and fellow opening bowler Nick Henderson, with the trio combining for 21 of Colts’ 25 wickets this season.
Add in his partnership with Rhys Wagstaff at the top of the batting order, with both batsmen combining for 377 runs this season, and it shows Robinson’s ability to quickly gel with his new teammates on the field.
“Everyone at the club has been welcoming and I don’t feel out of place,” he said.
“I settled in quite well. We’re quite a social club and a very friendly club. There’s a lot of people there if you need anything or want anything. Graham Hannan has been really good, helping me out and what not.
“Dayne Baker has done a great job as captain, and he’s very good as a bowler as well, coming on first change to keep it tight where Nick Henderson and I might not have taken wickets.
“With Nick, he bowls really hard and he tries to keep it tight at the other end.”
After a bit of a slower start to the season, with three losses in their first four games, Colts roared back into contention to just miss out on qualifying for the T20 grand final on percentage to Clunes.
They are behind the eightball in the one-day competition, having lost their opening two games to Beaufort and Maryborough respectively, but Robinson is confident that their best cricket can compete with any team in the competition.
“We were quite unlucky with Beaufort. We didn’t bowl too well, but we batted well in that game, we felt. In the other T20 games, everyone did their bit. Middle order bowlers bowled well and the batsmen did their job,” he said.
Colts are in desperate need of a win this weekend, but face a difficult task against a Laanecoorie Dunolly team fresh off winning the T20 premiership last Sunday.
However, ask Robinson about the task ahead, and he’s excited about the prospect.
“I think it’s good to play teams that are unbeaten. If you want to be the best team you have to beat the best team. If everyone plays their part and chips in, I can’t see why we couldn’t have a good game against Laanecoorie Dunolly,” he said.
While Robinson is cruising towards potentially scoring over 400 runs and taking 15 wickets for the season at this stage, he is a bit mild-mannered when it comes to what he wants to achieve on a personal level, preferring to focus on what Colts can achieve this season.
“I haven’t really set any goals in terms of having many runs or wickets I want to take or score, but I just want to do what I can for the team,” he said.
“If I do well, and I score runs, the team does well, so I just want to give what I can for the team if they need anything.
“If they need quick runs, I’ll do that, and if they need someone to try and take a wicket and break a partnership, I’d happily do that.”