Ollie Robinson refuses to apologise for foul-mouthed celebration
‘If you can’t handle that, what can you handle?’: Ollie Robinson refuses to apologise for foul-mouthed celebration after dismissing Usman Khawaja on day three of the Ashes
- Ollie Robinson does not regret his celebration after bowling Usman Khawaja
- He appeared to swear towards Khawaja after he bowled him for 141 on day three
- England closed a heavily rain-affected day on 28-2, a lead of 35 at Edgbaston
Ollie Robinson offered no apology for his foul-mouthed send-off to Usman Khawaja – and then taunted Australia by asking: ‘If you can’t handle that, what can you handle?’
The pumped-up England bowler appeared to tell Khawaja to, ‘F*** off, you f***ing p****’ after dismissing him for 141, the first of three wickets he took as the tourists collapsed to 386 all out.
Robinson’s fiery celebration was criticised by Australian reporters as rain brought a premature end to the third day of the first Ashes Test, with England closing on 28 for 2, a lead of just 35 runs.
But the 29-year-old responded: ‘I don’t really care how it’s perceived. It’s the Ashes, it’s professional sport. If you can’t handle that, what can you handle?
‘When you’re in the heat of the moment and have the passion of the Ashes, that can happen. We’ve all seen Ricky Ponting and other Aussies do that to us, so just because the shoe is on the other foot, it’s not received well.
Ollie Robinson offered no apology for his foul-mouthed send-off to Usman Khawaja
‘For me, it’s my first home Ashes and to get the big wicket at the time was special for me. To get that wicket for the team was massive. We all want that theatre of the game and I am here to provide it.’
Asked if he expected to be reprimanded by the match referee, Robinson replied: ‘I am not going to comment on that.’
Despite the moans of their media, Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey insisted his team had no issues with Robinson.
‘Usman hasn’t said anything,’ he said. ‘It’s the Ashes, at times it will be pretty exciting and hostile cricket. I didn’t see anything over the top there. From our dressing room, there was no comment.’
Robinson, who said before the Ashes he hoped to give Australia a ‘good hiding’, also criticised the ‘defensive’ batting style of their opponents and took a pop at their tail end after England took their final four wickets for 14 runs.
‘We said that once we get past Pat Cummins, we feel they have three No11s,’ he admitted. ‘It’s something we can target through the series and wrap up their innings quite quickly and give us momentum.’
Robinson also praised Ben Stokes for his funky field placings, as the England captain put six men in catching positions in front of the bat before he clean bowled Khawaja with a yorker.
Robinson says Khawaja should be able to handle his reaction as it’s part of the game
‘Stokes came up to me the ball before and said, “What did we do in Pakistan?”,’ he revealed. ‘We decided to try the umbrella field and for me to bowl a yorker first up. It’s one of those plans that came off and Stokesy looks like a genius.’
Starting their second innings with a lead of seven, England lost both openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in bowler-friendly conditions following a rain break, with Crawley appearing unhappy with the umpires for being asked to bat in the gloom. Robinson said: ‘Yeah, they were (frustrated), but they understand if the umpire says it’s fit to play, it’s fit to play. You won’t hear any excuses from our side.’
Robinson also played down the blister on Moeen Ali’s spinning figure which appeared to cause him problems during the four overs he bowled yesterday, which went for 23 runs. Moeen was also fined 25 per cent of his match fee for drying his bowling hand with a spray on Saturday.
‘As far as I’m aware, it’s fine,’ added Robinson. ‘I haven’t actually seen it myself but seems fine.’
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