Out-of-favour England seamer Ollie Robinson has been named Sussex's red-ball captain for the 2026 county season.
Ollie Robinson made Sussex red-ball captain
On Wednesday (January 21), Sussex announced their captains for the upcoming season. John Simpson, who has led Sussex in the County Championship since signing for the South-coast side in 2024, will continue as club captain, but has handed the red-ball captaincy to Ollie Robinson. Tom Haines, who led the side in the County Championship in 2022, will be red-ball vice captain.
Robinson's captaincy experience at the senior level is limited, and this is his first full-time role. He led Kent at the U15 and U17 levels, and also captained his school team in 2009. In 2016 and 2017, Robinson captained Sussex's Second XI in all three formats. In 2021, he led the county in a solitary Championship game against Kent. Robinson took 3-54 and 1-66 and scored 21 as the match was drawn.
“It’s a huge honour to be named captain of Sussex for four-day cricket,” Robinson said. “We have a talented, committed group, and my focus will be on setting high standards on and off the field, playing positive cricket, and giving ourselves the best chance to compete consistently at the highest level.”
Robinson has played 20 Tests for England, the last of those coming nearly two years ago, against India at Ranchi.
Sussex name four captains in leadership restructure
Robinson's appointment is part of a wider restructure of Sussex's leadership group for the 2026 season. In addition, Jack Carson has been made the 50-over captain for the first time. Tymal Mills will continue as the T20 skipper, for the third season in a row.
In addition to having a captain for each format, Sussex have confirmed that John Simpson will be the club captain, a role that will see him serve as a conduit of sorts between the players and coaches. Simpson led a turnaround for the red-ball side which resulted in promotion to Division One for the 2025 season. He has also been prolific with the bat since joining the county, averaging 74.81 and 60.33 in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
“John Simpson has shown not only a very high level of skill on the field, but equally has shown his leadership skills on and off the field, and this is the perfect time for him to take on a wider role at the club, which will involve mentoring Jack Carson and also working closely with the other two captains, and acting as a hybrid between the coaches and the players,” said Sussex director of cricket Paul Farbrace.
The leadership restructure follows a report in The Guardian last week that Sussex have been placed in special measures by the ECB for alleged financial mismanagement and breaches of sustainability regulations. A club statement responding to the report said: "We ask our members and supporters for patience while we work through an ongoing process. We are confident that we will find a constructive solution and a positive way forward for the club."
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