Seamer Ollie Robinson was a surprise inclusion in England’s Test squad to face New Zealand, but director Rob Key is backing the big quick.
Robinson last ran out in Test whites in February 2024 against India in Ranchi. He bowled wicketless spells in the first innings before succumbing to his mortal enemy: back spasms. The 32-year-old has been plagued by them since his Test debut in 2021, leading to him missing many a Test match.
Despite this, when Robinson is on song, he hits the right notes. The right-armer boasts 76 wickets from his 20 Test matches at a superlative average of 22.92.
Robinson has hit a purple patch with Surrey in County Cricket this season, scooping three five-wicket hauls and an unbeaten century with the bat earlier this month, all while captaining the club.
Key was eager to inject some confidence in his player at Wednesdaý night’s press conference.
“We’ve been pretty transparent with Ollie, when we left him out the last time, both to him and publicly,” he said.
“Ollie Robinson, when he’s fit and bowling at a decent pace for him, which is around 82-83 mph, he is world-class. When you look at his record, he is one of the few bowlers right up there statistically, in all the bowlers globally, of all time.
“We’ve spoken to him a lot throughout the start of this summer. He’s constantly been messaging as well. Even the other day, he said, ‘What do I need to do to impress?’ Well, you need to show that you can maintain your skill, your speed throughout the game. That’s what we require, and that’s what he’s done.”
Robinson is expected to spearhead the pace attack alongside seamers Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson and the effervescent Ben Stokes. The talisman emerged from England’s disastrous Ashes tour as one of the best performers with the ball, claiming 15 wickets at 25.13.
As such, Key is expecting Stokes to elevate himself in the bowling lineup.
“There’s a chance that Ben could take the new ball, or Ben could come on pretty soon,” he added.
“I often feel that Ben sometimes doesn’t bowl himself soon enough. Ben is one of our best swing bowlers, and he’s got his inswinger back as well, from what I watched the other day when he was playing for Durham.
“Generally, the ball is going to swing after the lacquer has gone off in the first 10-15 overs. So there’s a chance he could take the new ball, there’s a chance Josh Tongue could take the new ball as well, but it’d be good to have Ben coming on sooner than what he has done in the past.”
England begin their summer with the first of three Tests against New Zealand at Lord’s, starting 4 June.
