By RICHARD GIBSON, MAIL ON SUNDAY CRICKET CORRESPONDENT
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England star Ollie Robinson is a shock winter switch goal for Nottinghamshire in a transfer that might pair him with Take a look at team-mate Josh Tongue.
Robinson, 33 subsequent month, has a yr to run on his contract with Sussex however Every day Mail Sport understands he held talks with 2025 county champions Notts previous to the membership’s former director of cricket Paul Farbrace leaving for Lancashire.
Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell and captain Haseeb Hameed are recognized to be big followers of the bowler, who has 104 wickets to his identify in simply 24 Take a look at appearances at 19.25 runs apiece.
Nonetheless, any transfer away from Hove would contain a compensation payment being paid to launch Robinson from the ultimate 12 months of his present deal and no discussions have but taken place at board degree between the golf equipment, regardless of a agency enquiry about his availability.
Sussex are in ‘particular measures’ beneath the monetary management of the ECB, required to strip again their taking part in finances beneath restrictions imposed by the governing physique following the £1.33million loss they incurred in the course of the yr of 2024-25. It means all their participant ins and outs should be rubber-stamped by Lord’s.
The will to cut back the wage invoice has seen a number of gamers depart the south coast in latest weeks, together with latest England debutant Henry Crocombe to Surrey and the extremely constant veteran wicketkeeper John Simpson to Nottinghamshire.
England star Ollie Robinson (proper) is a shock winter switch goal for Nottinghamshire in a transfer that might pair him with Take a look at team-mate Josh Tongue (left)
Robinson took his first Take a look at five-for at Nottinghamshire’s Trent Bridge, in a draw with India in 2021
Now Robinson, who was awarded the Bob Willis Trophy as England’s participant of the yr on the Cricket Media Membership lunch at Lord’s on Tuesday, might observe Simpson to Trent Bridge, or probably go elsewhere, if a compensation bundle could be agreed.
Nottinghamshire are considered one of a number of counties looking out for senior bowlers this winter, with Lancashire additionally in want of reinforcements after letting go of Sir Jimmy Anderson, 44, regardless of him bagging 50 County Championship wickets for his boyhood membership final summer time.
Switch charges in cricket are uncommon, with gamers historically shifting from membership to membership as soon as they develop into free brokers. One notable exception got here 5 years in the past when Essex purchased Matt Critchley from Derbyshire beneath a selected clause in his contract.
Intriguingly, Robinson is again on England’s central contracts listing for 2026-27 following a two-year absence. The very fact he’ll subsequently not price his county a penny subsequent season in wages makes him a lovely acquisition, even when his appearances are restricted by worldwide commitments.
One other signal that counties – probably emboldened by their multi-million pound Hundred sale windfalls – are ready to problem the long-held system and half with money for gamers got here in the previous couple of days, when Hampshire agreed to pay Northamptonshire for the signing of Saif Zaib only a yr after he prolonged his phrases at Wantage Highway.
Every day Mail Sport understands Zaib was on the verge of becoming a member of Yorkshire in latest weeks earlier than deciding on staying in Division Two with relegated Hampshire, having develop into annoyed at not batting within the high 4 for Twenty20 Blast winners Northants.
The 28-year-old struck six a whole bunch beneath Australian coach Darren Lehmann in ending because the Championship’s most prolific batsman in 2025, and averaged in extra of 40 once more final season, however views a swap to the Utilita Bowl as higher for his future ambitions.
Northants have moved to exchange one left-hander with one other, although, with Yorkshire’s Finlay Bean given permission to maneuver to Wantage Highway regardless of having two years left on his phrases at Headingley.
Hampshire have agreed to pay Northamptonshire for the signing of Saif Zaib only a yr after he prolonged his phrases at Wantage Highway
Northants have moved to exchange one left-hander with one other, with Yorkshire’s Finlay Bean given permission to maneuver to Wantage Highway regardless of having two years left at Headingley
Yorkshire had been reluctant to let go of Bean, 24, however had been equally unwilling to maintain somebody who noticed his future elsewhere after being axed from the highest of the order to accommodate Will Luxton in midsummer. No cash modified fingers within the switch.
One different participant who might be leaving Yorkshire is leg-spinner Jafer Chohan, who is 2 years right into a three-year deal.
Chohan, 24, joined Yorkshire following an preliminary advice from Joe Root, and has since been named in England squads, however has made only one first-class look in three years. Hampshire are recognized to admire him.
