The traditional proverb ‘Patience is a virtue’ is, I am fairly reliably informed, most likely originating from the 4th century poem ‘Psychomachia’, emphasising that the ability to wait calmly, endure discomfort and show self- control are noble, valuable character traits. It’s wisdom has been oft appropriated. Aristotle philosophised that ‘Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet’. Benjamin Franklin who, as well as being a Founding Father, was also the first US Post Master General, held that “He that can have patience can have what he will”. Tolstoy, whilst drafting his opus War and Peace, reflected that the “most powerful warriors are patience and time”. But perhaps Bruce Lee expressed it best with “Patience is not passive, on the contrary, it is concentrated strength”.
It is advice that all opening batsmen would do well to heed, particularly in early season county cricket when facing a red ball likely to be ‘doing plenty’. Determination and concentration, aligned with technique may not always yield fast runs, but crucially they can take shine of the ball and establish a platform to build from. Both for the opener and for those that follow them.
Patience is a characteristic that defines Sam Robson and one that has been much in evidence in the three matches for Middlesex so far. A grafted 33 in 89 balls against Gloucestershire may not sound huge, but it was the foundation of a the bat once match winning score. If others had taken advantage of his 31 against Worcestershire, a win rather than defeat would have ensued. But it was at Northants that Sam was able to take full advantage for himself, crafting a dominant 162 to secure a draw after the home side had battled to a 68 first innings lead.
A glance at Cricinfo would suggest that Sam had done very little between the victory against Gloucestershire to close the 2025 season and the start of this one. Far from it. He has been playing club games in Australia, so what, I wondered was the standard of club cricket there like compared to here.
Aussie Grade Cricket tops Club Cricket
“Club cricket” said Sam “is similar, but Grade Cricket, they take more seriously and train harder, so that is better than here”. Playing there is definitely something Robson would recommend to other county cricketers. “It is a good workout for county cricketers to go and play in the winter. The main advantage is the climate. Nothing beats middle practice even if it club level. We’ve had a few Middlesex lads out in Aus, NZ and SA”.
Sam’s endurance and experience is clearly valued by his county and has been rewarded with a contract extension until end of the 2027 season which will be no less than 19 years with Middlesex. A period that has, undoubtedly, encompassed highs and lows.
Setting aside his all to brief spell as England opener, it is, perhaps, no surprise that his greatest satisfaction from a Middlesex perspective had to be winning the Championship in 2016. Furthermore, that satisfaction has appreciated over time. “I had a fair bit of championship experience so was appreciative at the time, but I think now I appreciate it even more. The ups and downs endured, not just being best team, but also needing things to go your way. It is mighty difficult to win and we had a great team and team spirit”.
Last season there were some real highs for Sam, notably 133 to win at eventual champions Leicestershire and 169 in the One Day Cup at Durham, but ultimately it felt like a ‘nearly but not quite season’.
Sam conceded that “we were not at our best in the Championship and that but that run of losses at the beginning of the season made it hard to claw back despite a great later run and some good cricket”. It was, Sam reflected, “a bit of weird year. I’d missed a few games at start for the birth of our first child which was, of course, amazing. It was my benefit year too in the background. I played nicely in June, July August, but generally did not feel at my best”.
Getting form back is more than “just one shot off the middle”
An oft heard phrase from England players or coaches in the WT20 when discussing Jos Buttler was that ‘just one shot off the middle is all it takes to click back into form’. But is coming out of a sticky patch really that simple? It’s not a theory that Sam holds with. “When you have experience, temperament, hard work, keeping strong and watching the ball are more important”. That’s never more true than on testing April wickets in England. “Get through the new ball try to make it count” said Sam. “It’s so easy to get out with one little nick. Half the battle is maintaining the faith, hanging in there keep practicing”. Equally importantly, the Robson approach also demands keeping yourself on an even keel mentally. “You shouldn’t get too down as that can create as spiral where it’s even harder to get out the other side. Keep your head down and focus and things turn”.
As a senior member of a squad rich in potential, but lacking the same level of experience as Sam, how I wondered, does he get involved in supporting younger players. Sam conceded that now he is seeing that some of his peers and team mates of similar age are stopping playing. But he is enjoying strong relationships with the likes of Josh de Caires, Ben Geddes and Max Holden (at 28 a more senior player, but still 8 years younger than Sam). “I just try to help along the way and pass on advice if I think it will fit”.
The value of playing with experience players was a huge factor in Sam’s development. ”I know when I was young I picked up so much subconsciously from older players” citing the examples of Andrew Strauss and Chris Rogers, both opening bats who had performed with distinction for England and Australia respectively. “It wasn’t so much what they said to me, but more watching how they went about things in practice. If I was the other end, I would watch and listen to what they said and did out in the middle”.
As for the lack of an oversees signing this year (so far at least) Sam alluded to ‘potentially something in the offing” but certainly does not see it as a huge factor .
“It’s not really an issue. We are pretty used to cracking on as a squad and we have some exciting talent coming through with our bowling. Seb Morgan and Navya Sharma are both incredibly promising and in past years, I’m not sure we had that depth.
PSG won more without their ‘Galacticos’. Can Middlesex?
Middlesex will be hoping that the PSG analogy is relevant. They may have signed Mpappe, Neymar and Messi, but with them won nothing. Stripped of those Galacticos and with younger talent, they became European Champions. They have Luis Enrique as coach of course and Middlesex too have a new coach this year in Peter Fulton.
Fulton seems to made a positive impression on all he has met at the club and Sam is as positive as others. “It’s been good so far. New opinions, voices and views are a good thing. I’ve always enjoyed working with players and coaches from overseas to get a different perspective on things” he said, adding “the County Championship has been famous for that”. “He’s considered in what he says and doesn’t just blurt out any old crap”. One senses this is pretty high praise in the book of Sam Robson, himself more understated in his approach.
As we concluded Sam wanted to know if I would be there for the first day of the season. This article wasn’t ready by then, but I was and it turned out to be a pretty good day for Middlesex. Off the field in recent years, Middlesex fans have had to show levels of patience of which Aristotle, Benjamin Franklin, Tolstoy and Bruce Lee would have greatly approved. On it, the virtues of Sam Robson may just bring them something to cheer.
You can listen to the full interview with Sam here:
