LONDON (AP) — It was around Christmas that Ollie Robinson thought he would never play for England again.England at the time was playing in Australia and Robinson was nowhere near.But circumstances put him back on England’s radar.England lost the Ashes 4-1 and was resetting. Coach Brendon McCullum messaged Robinson at the start of the season that the combative fast bowler would be reconsidered.Robinson, despite 76 wickets in 20 tests, was dropped in 2024 for being slack on fitness and not a team-first player. But this season he was made captain of Sussex, owned to being a leader, and took 18 wickets in the ongoing County Championship. He was impossible to overlook and back in England’s good graces.With Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse unavailable to play the first home test against New Zealand on Thursday at Lord’s, Robinson was given the new ball and having to prove himself again, with the added pressure of defending England’s humbling first innings total of 140.
It turned into a dream comeback. He dismissed Devon Conway with his third ball, Kane Williamson with his fifth and Rachin Ravindra with his sixth in a three-wicket maiden first over. The Lord’s crowd was chanting his name before it was completed.
