Robinson notches up a century of games

Ian Snook

Taranaki cricket captain Dean Robinson will be playing his 100th game for the province when the team head out against Marlborough on Friday in the first round of the Central Districts Chapple Cup, this year being held in Palmerston North.

He will join a small group of Taranaki Centurions, Brian Richards, Ali Jordan, Jamie Watkins and Ian Snook, and at only 32 years of age is likely to chase down Richard’s record of 141 games.

Already leaving other batsmen in his dust with 13 centuries he is fast closing in on Richard’s current haul of 4947 runs, with 550 more required to surpass the little master blaster, who played in the 70’s through to the 90’s.

Robinson is Taranaki through and through. Born in Stratford, schooled at Ngaere, Highlands and New Plymouth Boys High School, he has played the majority of his cricket in the province, and is now a teacher at Stratford Primary.

A tall, elegant, opening batsman he came to notice at NPBHS where he had three seasons in the 1st XI, scoring two centuries during the period, playing for Central Districts Under 15’s and 17’s before winning selection in the CD and New Zealand Under 19’s. A tour to England with NZ alongside the likes of Kane Williamson and Doug Bracewell opened his eyes to what the cricket world offered and he spent five seasons in the UK during the New Zealand winter.

At 18 years of age, just out of school, Alistair Jordan picked Robinson in the Taranaki side and his provincial career was underway.

There have been many memorable events. His first century against Horowhenua stands out, as does the 200 against Wairarapa, his century against Hawkes Bay when he batted through the innings to ensure Taranaki won the Chapple Cup in 2019, and record partnerships of 342 unbeaten with Peter Ingram for the 1st wicket and 201 unbeaten with Dion Ebrahim for the 2nd wicket.

Two mentors stand out during the past 14 seasons, firstly his team mate Jamie Watkins who he claims played a big part in his development and once Watkins retired he leant on Taranaki coach Debu Banik who has been instrumental in developing his technical and tactical game.

At 22 Robinson had his first taste of cricket with the big boys when selected for Central Districts to play against Otago who were lead by Brendon McCullum and had an opening attack of current Blackcap Neil Wagner and English test quickie Steven Finn. A nervous but compact innings of 27 set him on his way and Wagner did not ‘eat him’ as he had suggested when Robinson walked to the wicket.

Due to the fact that international players Ingram and Jamie Howe were opening the batting for CD and soon after his introduction, the Central side started to fill up with players from outside the region, Robinson has been stuck on 15 first class games and nine one dayers where he made his top score of 130 not out and averages a healthy 41.4. As well he snuck in one T20 outing.

Winning the Ford Trophy with the Central Stags at Pukekura Park in 2015 was a highlight for Robinson.

He has already proved himself as a prodigious scoring batsmen for Taranaki in provincial cricket, displaying plenty of technical expertise and a strong mental attitude, and the journey is far from over.

We wish him all the best on Friday. Don’t be surprised to read about a century against Marlborough. Congratulations and good luck Dean!

Ian Snook is a former Central Districts and Taranaki player and is the third all-time runs scorer for the province.