Tim Robinson is a New Zealand international batter who plays for the Brisbane Heat in BBL|16. Born on 28 April 2002 in Wellington, he’s a right-handed top-order batter who went from javelin thrower to Black Caps match-winner. Robinson made his New Zealand debut in 2024 and smashed a stunning maiden T20I century against Australia.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Timothy Blake Robinson |
| Born | 28 April 2002, Wellington, NZ |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Role | Top-order batter |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm medium |
| BBL team | Brisbane Heat (2026-27) |
| Domestic team | Wellington Firebirds |
| Other teams | Guyana Amazon Warriors, Northamptonshire |
| NZ caps | 3 ODIs, 31 T20Is |
Background: Country, Early Life and Domestic Roots
Robinson is a Wellington boy. Born in New Zealand’s capital on 28 April 2002, his sporting story started away from cricket — at Wellington College, he was a serious javelin thrower. That athletic background gave him the power and coordination that now define his batting: the strong base, the fast hands, the ability to clear the ropes without slogging.
He switched focus to cricket and joined the Wellington Firebirds pathway. He made his T20 debut for Wellington in November 2021 and his first-class debut in March 2022, scoring a fifty and then a maiden century within weeks. He made his List A debut in November 2022. He plays all three formats for Wellington in the Plunket Shield, Ford Trophy and Super Smash — a proper all-format domestic cricketer before he was 22.
International Career
Robinson’s international career is young but already has a signature innings — one of the great rescue acts in T20I history.
Test Career
No Tests yet. With four first-class hundreds and 1,478 runs at 32.84, he’s a credible red-ball prospect, but New Zealand’s Test top order is settled and his white-ball game has taken priority so far.
ODI Career
Robinson made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in November 2024 (cap 217), handed his cap during the series in the subcontinent. He’s played 3 ODIs, scoring 48 runs at 16.00 with a best of 35. It’s a small sample — he’s still finding his feet in the 50-over game.
T20I Career
This is where he’s made his name. Robinson made his T20I debut against Pakistan in April 2024 (cap 101). In 31 T20Is he’s scored 665 runs at 26.60 with a strike rate of 136.83 — one hundred, two fifties, 58 fours and 26 sixes.
The hundred is the one everyone remembers. Against Australia at Mount Maunganui in October 2025 — in just his 13th T20I — he was called in as a late replacement for the injured Rachin Ravindra and walked in with his side reeling at 3 for 6 in the second over. He rebuilt with Daryl Mitchell (a 92-run fourth-wicket stand), survived a couple of dropped catches, reached fifty off 31 balls, and brought up his maiden T20I hundred on the penultimate delivery — finishing 106 not out off 66 balls to lift New Zealand to 181. Six fours, five sixes. It made him only the third New Zealand batter to score a T20I century against Australia.
Domestic and Franchise Career
For Wellington, Robinson’s breakout domestic summer was 2023-24: 298 runs in six Super Smash innings at an average of 59.60 and a strike rate of 187.42. That got him noticed by the national selectors. His career-best Super Smash score — 139 off 64 balls — is the second-highest individual score in the competition’s history. In all first-class cricket he’s scored 1,478 runs at 32.84 with four hundreds, and in List A cricket 940 runs at 26.85 with two hundreds.
He’s also played franchise cricket around the world: the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL, Northamptonshire in England, and in America’s Major League Cricket. He’s been coached at Wellington by former Queensland quick Shane Jurgensen. That spread of experience — Caribbean, English, American conditions — is exactly why the Heat wanted him.
BBL Career — First Stint
BBL|16 (2026-27): Robinson signed with the Brisbane Heat in September 2026 — his first BBL stint. The Heat signed him for the entire competition after he moved to a casual contract with Cricket Wellington, which means he’ll miss the 2026-27 Super Smash campaign. It’s a big call from a 24-year-old, and it shows how much he wants this.
Heat coach James Hopes called him “a rising star of international cricket” and praised his scoring speed, power and fielding: “He scores quickly, has excellent power, and is very strong in the field. We’ve signed him for the entire competition and think he will complement the playing group nicely.” He joins fellow first-time international recruit Tom Curran in Brisbane. Read more in our Tom Curran signs for Brisbane Heat story.
Playing Style and Strengths
Robinson is an aggressive top-order batter who hits through the line and clears the ropes easily — the javelin background shows in his power game. His T20I strike rate of 136.83 shows he scores quickly without slogging. He’s equally comfortable taking on the new ball or rebuilding after early wickets, which that 106* proved beyond doubt.
His biggest strength might be temperament. Walking in at 3 for 6 against Australia and calmly building a century takes serious nerve — most young batters would have panicked. He’s also a strong fielder, with 18 catches in 31 T20Is, and Hopes specifically mentioned his fielding when announcing the signing.
Recent Form and What to Watch
Robinson arrives at BBL|16 in strong touch. He played for New Zealand A in northern Australia’s pre-season competitions and has been in good T20I form through 2026. The question for Heat fans: where does he bat? He’s a natural opener, and the Gabba’s quick bounce should suit his pull and cut game — he grew up pretending his backyard was the Gabba, after all.
Watch for his battle with the new ball against Australia’s best quicks, whether he can produce another innings like that Mount Maunganui hundred, and how he handles the expectations of a full-season overseas deal. The Heat don’t hand out full-season contracts to 24-year-olds lightly. If he fires, they’ve found a genuine star. Check the BBL 2027 schedule for Heat fixtures.
Career Statistics
T20I Career (New Zealand)
| Matches | Runs | Avg | SR | HS | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 665 | 26.60 | 136.83 | 106* | 1/2 |
ODI Career (New Zealand)
| Matches | Runs | Avg | HS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 48 | 16.00 | 35 |
First-Class Career
| Matches | Runs | Avg | HS | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1,478 | 32.84 | 130 | 4/8 |
List A Career
| Matches | Runs | Avg | HS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 940 | 26.85 | 113 | 2/5 |
Last verified: 18 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which BBL team does Tim Robinson play for?
Tim Robinson signed with the Brisbane Heat for the 2026-27 BBL season (BBL|16). It’s his first time playing in the Big Bash, and he’s signed for the entire competition.
Did Tim Robinson really throw javelin?
Yes. Before focusing on cricket, Robinson was a javelin thrower at Wellington College. The power from that background shows in his batting — especially his six-hitting.
What is Tim Robinson’s best international innings?
His maiden T20I century — 106 not out off 66 balls against Australia at Mount Maunganui in October 2025. He came in at 3 for 6 as a late replacement for Rachin Ravindra and carried New Zealand to 181, becoming only the third Kiwi to score a T20I hundred against Australia.
See the BBL 2027 schedule for Heat fixtures, meet the other BBL 2027 teams, and check the BBL 2027 points table once the season starts.