While all eyes were on Steve Smith ahead of his Sussex debut against Worcestershire at New Road, his Ashes rival Ollie Robinson stole the show on the opening morning of the Division Two fixture, picking up four wickets in quick succession in a superb new-ball spell.

Sussex captain Cheteshwar Pujara won the toss and opted for his side to field first. Armed with the new ball, Robinson made an instant breakthrough with Ed Pollock edging one through to Tom Clark in the slip cordon.

A few overs later Robinson claimed the wicket of former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, pinning him lbw, ‘celebrappealling’ before the umpire raised his finger. He picked up England Lions batter Jack Haynes five deliveries later with Tom Alsop taking a fine catch low to his left at first slip.

Robinson’s fourth and final new-ball victim was the reliable Worcestershire opener Jake Libby. It was the most eye-catching wicket of the lot with Robinson extracting late inward movement to sneak through the gap between Robinson’s bat and pad to remove Libby’s middle stump.

Robinson finished his opening spell with figures of 7-0-30-4.

You can watch all four of Robinson’s four new-ball wicket below:

c Clark b Robinson ⚡

Great start! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/tVm9ET74t5

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 4, 2023

Pinned. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Mrn4PqBOFT

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 4, 2023

Ollie’s third, top form ⚡ pic.twitter.com/KOIi9L3zUe

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 4, 2023

Middle stump. 👋 pic.twitter.com/dDGtwFqeCe

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 4, 2023