LAWRENCE BOOTH: Is this the new and improved Robinson?

LAWRENCE BOOTH: Is this the new and improved Ollie Robinson? A big no-ball denied him a dream comeback, but he kept charging in and was rewarded with the wicket of Anrich Nortje – now the England paceman needs to stay fit

• Robinson was handed the new ball on his return after seven months out 
• England paceman was called for a no-ball after Elgar was caught at short leg
• His first ball after tea trapped Nortje lbw as South Africa were dismissed for 151

Ollie Robinson had already packed more into his first year as an international cricketer than some manage in a career.

Seven wickets in his maiden Test, the excavation of offensive tweets, suspension, five-fors against India, a public fat-shaming in Tasmania and a string of injuries and ailments, from back spasms via a tooth infection to Covid.

You name it, Robinson has enjoyed and endured it — 39 Test wickets at 21 and the strange sense that he seemed determined to throw it all away.

England bowler Ollie Robinson celebrates after taking the wicket of Anrich Nortje

On Thursday, more than seven months after bowling coach Jon Lewis voiced England’s frustration over his fitness on the outfield at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval, Robinson added another twist to his tale. He was, relatively speaking, svelte, sleek and speedy. At the age of 28, he was almost a new man.

On the face of it, figures of 14-0-48-1 in a South African total of 151 were hardly compelling. Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad picked up three each and Ben Stokes two. Robinson was far from the headline act and yet, come what may, that appears to be his fate.

England have been itching to pick him again, itching for him to grasp that the life of a Test bowler is rarely glamorous, itching for him to grow up.

Robinson was handed the new ball on his return to the England team after seven months out 

Under the regime of Joe Root and Chris Silverwood, an impasse had been reached. The West Indies tour, where Robinson was supposed to have proved he could lead the attack in the absence of Broad and Anderson, came and went without a ball bowled in anger.

But Stokes has proved an important ally. A member of the rank and file when Lewis said his piece, Stokes queried the wisdom of going public. As captain, he has made a point of backing his players, even if the evidence is shaky.

So when Stokes sat his man down and spelled out the realities of being an international sportsman, Robinson was ready to listen.

In fairness, the penny had already begun its descent. Robinson worked hard at Sussex, as well as with England’s strength and conditioning coach Phil Scott, and looked impressive as the Lions thrashed the South Africans at Canterbury.

Now, Stokes rewarded him with the new ball, depriving Broad of his usual role for the first time in a home Test since 2013. His second delivery beat Sarel Erwee and he was away, hitting a length outside off stump, moving it both ways, creating doubt.

Had he not overstepped he would have had the wicket of South Africa’s captain Dean Elgar, well caught at short leg by Ollie Pope on 10. No-one on the ground was more relieved than Robinson when Broad removed Elgar two runs later.

Above all, Robinson was, by his standards at least, charging in. One of the complaints in Australia was that he slowed as the day wore on, if he did not hobble off first.

Here, his first spell measured on average 83.18mph, his second 82.68 and his third 82.21. They were the three fastest spells of his England career.

Speed is not everything for Robinson and may still be behind bounce, accuracy and movement both ways in his list of attributes. But the extra oomph was evidence of his desire for change.

An opening spell of 7-0-26-0 did him little justice but Stokes gave him the first over after lunch as a token of his faith.

Robinson lined up next to England captain Ben Stokes for the anthem before day one

Kyle Verreynne drove his first ball through the covers, but was then repeatedly caught in no-man’s land. Forward or back? When Robinson is at his best, it is the question he poses most consistently.

After England’s obsession with bombing the lower order produced underwhelming results, Robinson opened again after tea. His first ball was refreshingly full and trapped Anrich Nortje lbw.

Stokes stressed before this game how popular Robinson has remained in the dressing room throughout the ups and downs. The joy that greeted his wicket proved the point.

Now he just needs to stay fit. Happily for England, that does not sound quite as daft as it once did.

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