Ollie Robinson’s future for the national team is once again in doubt within England’s top brass Issues of debate.
Brendan McCullum, speaking after his team’s 3-1 loss to India with one game remaining, said he would support Robinson but that in his two years as Test head coach, This fiercely positive New Zealander is a rarity. He also openly admitted that one of his players was underperforming.
“Everything he’s done in the Test matches suggests that we’re not just going to see the Ollie Robinson we saw before, but we’re going to see a better version of him,” McCullum said at the team hotel on Tuesday. “For some reason, it didn’t quite work out for him. Apparently he was not only disappointed like everyone else, but the most disappointed of them all.”
Range was Robinson’s first appearance in any cricket match since last summer’s Ashes Test at Headingley when he left the field with back spasms – not a first in itself – after running away with the bat. After 58 snaps, his ball-carrying velocity hovers in the mid-70s mph. He also struggled without the ball and dropped a crucial catch during India’s comeback.
Ben Stokes was completely ignored by India as they chased the ball, and although the skipper hit out at the incident in his post-match press conference, insisting it was just tactical, there was frustration behind the scenes for England It is obvious.
McCallum said: “He actually sprained his back when he was batting and that’s why he lost speed in the first couple of overs. It was a tough match for him, no doubt, And he’s had a lot of injuries. We have to make sure we find a way to get the best out of him.”
Injuries can happen to any player, but fitness training – adjusting to the rigors of international cricket – has been a perennial issue for Robinson. However, this again depends on management. For example, a 30-year-old player with a poor fitness record might be sent to play for the Lions at the start of the tour despite choosing not to play warm-up games.
Robinson’s strengths – 76 Test wickets, 23 runs apiece, and a wealth of skills with delivery from a high release point – are obvious, but whether this suits a system designed to loosen up players and trust the dynamics of individual preparation is Another thing. Last October, England gave many young tailors two-year contracts, but it was telling that Robinson only signed one.
Although a minor issue, Robinson’s podcast with his girlfriend, social media influencer Mia Baker, also frustrated a regime struggling with public perception. He revealed the management’s visa blunder at the start of the tour, marveling at the luxurious “private jet” the team flew on during the mid-series break in Abu Dhabi in an episode released on Tuesday after the fourth Test .
After another break, this time in India but with players either playing golf in Bangalore or holidaying in Chandigarh, England’s selection in Dharamshala next week could be telling. McCullum spoke of backing Robinson “the next time he comes along” rather than the fifth Test itself, which he would be happier to lock in for Jonny Bairstow.
This will be Bairstow’s 100th Test cap and McCullum expects it to be a huge motivation after he continued a tour without a declared innings after scoring 38 and 30 respectively in Ranchi .
“It was really exciting for him,” McCallum said. “Everyone knows Jonny’s story. He can be a very emotional person at times and big milestones like this really mean a lot to him. [In this match] He walked taller, looked stronger, had that presence and that swagger of a true Jonny Bairstow. When he has an ability like this, you feel like he’s never too far away from you. “
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More broadly, McCullum admitted that England fell short at key moments, such as the first innings at Rajkot or the third day in Ranchi, when Dhruv Jurell’s 90 turned around a Test. After the Ashes, with a poor start coupled with a sense of “what if” after the draw in Manchester, 2-2, a dynamic style didn’t quite work out against the best teams.
“There are times in the game where we haven’t quite settled on our approach,” McCallum said. “We lost here and didn’t win the Ashes but we are a better team than we were 18 months ago and we have a chance to do something special over the next 18 months. We will continue to chip away at it Those rough edges. It’s not bad to be England manager now.”
In McCullum’s report, praise was given to Shoaib Bahir and Tom Hartley – who took 12 wickets combined in Ranchi and a total of 32 wickets in the series so far – but Concerns have been raised over how much cricket they will play domestically as the pursuit of the county title, mainly in the spring and autumn, leans heavily towards seam bowling.
At Somerset, 20-year-old Bashir may find himself battling Jack Leach for a spot, especially since the spin track recently witnessed at Taunton has been hampered by points deductions in the past. Meanwhile, Lancashire have signed Australian player Nathan Lyon out of the squad for this season, potentially ruling out 24-year-old Hartley.
McCullum admitted there were “concerns” about selecting the pair solely for their attributes due to a lack of first-class experience, saying: “We think they have the skill, but are they good enough at this level? ?What we’ve seen is that they’re definitely good enough.
“We would be a little frustrated if they didn’t get the opportunity at the county level. It’s possible that could happen, but we don’t want to dictate to the counties because they have their own agenda as well. [But] I think you’d be a bit miffed if you didn’t give them more opportunities to play county cricket. “
