Ollie Robinson is in serious contention to make his debut on the India tour and if selected for the fourth Test on Friday, he is a bowler who has a lot to prove but has the potential to be the long-term successor to Stuart Broad.
That’s what England need right now as they salve their wounds and try to recover from the record defeat in Rajkot, where James Anderson was bowled by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings and needed to be rested.
Robinson can bowl on slow pitches, as he proved with nine wickets at an average of 21 against Pakistan last winter. He put his back to a bouncer volley in the thrilling first Test win in Rawalpindi and was instrumental in the series-clinching victory in 2015. Multan took Babar Azam’s somersault while reversing the old ball. He also had a remarkable series against India in England in 2021, taking 21 wickets at 21.33.
He too must be determined to prove something. It was a good idea to give him a one-year central contract while three young fast bowlers with much less experience and success at Test level (Josh Tongue, Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse) were given two-year deals. It was a pointed message that if he wanted to be the next Broad, he had to do well in the long run.
Robinson responded by improving his fitness. Approximately 20 seconds into the 2-kilometer treadmill time trial, he looks groomed and shaved; it’s one way England measure a player’s status.
After 19 Tests, Robinson is averaging 21, a fascinating figure, as he is clearly an intelligent bowler but is prone to breaking down under the most intense scrutiny, suggesting a vulnerability beneath the bravado.
He was last hampered in the Ashes Test played for England at Headingley due to a recurrence of back spasm problems and did not bowl in Australia’s second innings. It is the second time he has struggled in the Ashes series. He bowled well in the first Test at Edgbaston, but a nine-over spell from the bouncers at Lord’s took its toll and led to his problems at Headingley.
A finger injury prevented him from playing for Sussex for the remainder of the season and he was separated from his partner; this story appeared in the media along with details of his new relationship with golf social media influencer Mia Baker, who was traveling with him. As well as carrying drinks in the first three Tests in India, he records a weekly podcast called Chatting Balls.
Like Broad, he has no shortage of ideas and is also prone to falling out with his opponents. He sparked controversy last summer with comments accusing Australia of being afraid of its reluctance to “go into competition with us”. When he was criticized for calling Usman Khawaja a “f— off, you f——- p—-” during the first Test, he hit back by citing Ricky Ponting’s on-field behavior as an example. Australian hypocrisy.
Ponting was not happy and Matthew Hayden weighed in, describing Robinson as a “forgettable cricketer” and a “224km per hour naked nut” at bowling. Gauche Robinson is reckless and has the classic seamer temperament. His sharpness could give England a further advantage as they try to come back from 2-1 down.
Will Wood feature in the fourth Test?
When England fell 2-0 behind in the Ashes, they renewed their attack with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood at Headingley and the comeback began. It’s harder to bring in new blood on tour, but Robinson was deliberately held back until the end of the tour and his bounce on gripping pitches and movement in both directions could be just what captain Ben Stokes needs right now.
The question is whether Wood also plays well because England mounted a much more balanced attack with two seamers in Rajkot and reduced India to 33 for three in the first innings. If Stokes could support them with a few checks that would be ideal, but could probably be overlooked by medical staff.
Wood reported feeling fine after the third Test and bowled only 10 overs in the second innings, with England making it through and India also making a pass. There is an eight-day gap between the fourth and fifth Tests, so if Wood plays he will have a break. If not, then Gus Atkinson is the only other seamer in the team but has looked a bit of a spare part on the tour so far.
Stokes worked hard with Robinson, seeing him as a project. He gave Robinson an ultimatum regarding his fitness when he was appointed captain but felt he deserved a second chance after his physical fitness was publicly criticized by management in Australia. Stokes was angered by comments from bowling coach Jon Lewis, who he believed should have remained behind closed doors.
Rule No. 1 of the Stokes regime is to be nothing but positive in public. It’s impossible to imagine a coach saying something similar now and surviving under Brendon McCullum and Stokes. Robinson must be desperate to repay Stokes’ faith.