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England’s media has turned on Ashes villain Ollie Robinson as the fallout from a series loss in India begins.
The hosts triumphed by five wickets in Ranchi on Monday night (AEDT) to take a 3-1 lead in the five-Test series with a match to play.
It signals the first lost series for England’s men’s team since Brendon McCullum took over as coach, and implemented his much talked about Bazball philosophy.
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And while the criticism will inevitably come thick and fast from all and sundry over the team’s approach, Robinson has been singled out in a UK Telegraph column which questioned his commitment to the game.
Australian fans may hold some lingering resentment towards Robinson for a number of incidents, none moreso than his inflammatory send-off of Usman Khawaja during last year’s Ashes.
In Ranchi, the right-arm fast bowler contributed little aside from a 58 with the bat in England’s first innings.
With the ball he went wicketless with a 4.15 economy rate, and then wasn’t asked to bowl at all in the second innings by captain Ben Stokes. Robinson also grassed a crucial catch during the lost match.
“Ollie Robinson is at a crossroads in a curious career and, by going unused throughout England’s fourth innings push for victory, he completed a baffling return to Test cricket eight months after limping out of the Ashes,” the Telegraph’s Will Macpherson wrote.
“His first delivery floated down at around 76mph (122km/h). A loosener after a long time out? Hardly, because he barely touched 80 (128km/h) thereafter, and even dropped into the 60s. His third ball was a no-ball, the first of six in the match, taking him to a tally of 77 in 20 Tests (he has 76 wickets).
“Last June, the great Australian attack-dog Matthew Hayden memorably described Robinson as “bowling 124kph nude nuts”. It felt harsh… Here, it looked like Hayden’s comment was ageing well.
“On this tour, which has seen him be the only player travelling with his partner, he has looked a man apart from the group as he attempts to expand his professional portfolio into the world of social media influencing and podcasting (his new partner’s domain). At times, insiders have wondered whether his eye has always been on the ball.”
With Stuart Broad retired, Jimmy Anderson nearing the end and Jofra Archer continually injured, Robinson was supposed to be England’s saviour in the fast bowling stakes.
But his dismal match was just one aspect of a loss that England great Nasser Hussain admits was disappointing.
England looked in control of the Ranchi match and could have levelled the series at 2-2, until a 7-35 collapse on Sunday put India in the box seat.
“India, 17 series in a row they’ve won at home, that’s how difficult they are to beat in those conditions,” the former Test captain said.
“But I sit here and see it as a missed opportunity in as much as there is no Virat Kohli, there is no Mohammed Shami, there is no Rishabh Pant, for most of the series there is no KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah has been rested, (Ravindra) Jadeja injured, (Ravi) Ashwin has to leave for a day of Test match cricket.
“There were opportunities there.
“There is no shame in losing to this India side but obviously, like with any Test series and any Test match, you look at key areas where you let the game slip and for me, all of yesterday (Sunday) really.”
The fifth Test begins March 7 in Dharamsala.
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