Ollie Robinson's seven-wicket haul must earn him role in Australia
Ashes to Ashes…Redemption man Robinson’s seven-wicket haul against India must earn him new-ball role in Australia
- In only four tests Ollie Robinson has become an integral part of England’s attack
- The offensive Tweets that marred his England debut are now a distant memory
- The 27-year-old says he’s ‘trying to be a better person’ after Twitter controversy
- Robinson has been one of England’s best players in a squad missing star names
It is less than three months since Ollie Robinson feared his Test career might have been over following the emergence of historical racist and sexist tweets during his Test debut at Lord’s.
However, his man-of-the-match performance against India at Headingley means it is now hard to believe he will not be handed the new ball on this winter’s Ashes tour of Australia.
The 27-year-old has become an integral part of England’s attack in only four Tests and the furore that enveloped him on his debut against New Zealand at Lord’s in early June, when offensive tweets from between 2012 and 2014 were found and made public, now seems a world away.
Ollie Robinson put in a match of the match performance against India at Headingley
His seven wickets in Leeds, including the crucial scalp of India captain Virat Kohli on the final morning, were testament to the character and resilience Robinson has shown during a turbulent summer.
The lengthy investigation that followed the Lord’s uproar concluded with the Sussex seam bowler being handed an eight-game ban, with five of those suspended.
Given that he missed the second Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston and two T20 Blast games for his county, the ban was judged to have been served by the time this series against India started.
Now Robinson is just thankful to be playing again after admitting earlier this month he had feared being banned for two years when he was initially suspended in June.
Virat Kohli walks off the pitch after being dismissed by Robinson at Headingley on Saturday
Yet he has emerged as the find of the summer for an England team whose bowling resources have been left depleted by the absence of Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes.
After four Tests he already has two five-wicket hauls and 23 wickets at an average of 17.65.
Robinson’s metronomic probing of off stump in the manner of his boyhood hero Glenn McGrath has paid dividends so far.
Now he is just looking to enjoy every moment — especially that dismissal of Kohli that led England on the path to victory in Leeds. ‘It was an amazing feeling, the crowd here were unbelievable,’ he said. ‘The noise when we got Kohli out was deafening, it was just an unbelievable experience and feeling to get that wicket.
Robinson has been a key player for England after the squad was left depleted by absentees
‘It’s off the back of quite a few hard, hard years. I’ve had to work hard to get here, so to get the rewards in the last four Test matches has been very pleasing.’
As for the events of early summer, Robinson admits: ‘When you’re performing, the scrutiny is off you a little bit. That’s not to say it’s not fresh in my memory. It’s still something I’m trying to work on and make myself a better person.’
The performance at Headingley had added significance for Robinson given he was sacked by Yorkshire in 2014 for what director of cricket Martyn Moxon called ‘a number of unprofessional actions’ thought to be related to time-keeping and trust issues. ‘I think it probably helped that I played here as a youngster,’ said Robinson. ‘I didn’t have my nerves and sort of knew the ends I was bowling at a bit better than maybe the other grounds.
‘It was extra special to get a winning five-for for England at this ground as well.’
James Anderson celebrates after taking the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane at Headingley
Robinson also paid tribute to James Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, who has taken him under his wing since he first entered the international set-up last summer.
‘Since I’ve come into the England environment he’s sort of been one of my closest friends here really,’ he said. ‘I get on with him, I speak to him every day. To learn from him has been a bonus. I’ve not seen that [grumpy] side of him that others may see.
‘It would be nice to open the bowling with Jimmy for the rest of the series. I feel like we dovetail quite well, we build pressure at both ends and we’ve got wickets with that.’
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