It goes from bad to worse for England as their preparations for the second Test against New Zealand have suffered another setback, with Ollie Robinson ruled out of the match at The Oval due to soreness in his right knee. England already called up uncapped talent Henry Crocombe as a cover for Robinson.
The injury comes just days after Robinson marked his return to Test cricket in style. Playing his first Test in more than two years, the Sussex seamer produced a superb performance at Lord’s, finishing with career-best match figures of 7 for 77. His stunning opening spell on Day 1, which included three wickets in his first over, set up England’s 115-run victory.
However, England confirmed that Robinson felt discomfort in his knee while training at Hove on Friday. He will undergo further assessment and, although he remains with the squad, will not be risked for the second Test. The management is, however, optimistic that he could return for the series finale at Trent Bridge, starting on June 25.
England put under pressure
Robinson’s absence is just one of the concerns for the English team right now. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson are already unavailable while an ECB investigation into an alleged breach of team protocols continues. Atkinson had also enjoyed a productive outing at Lord’s, taking seven wickets in the match.
The latest setback leaves England scrambling for pace-bowling options. Sussex quick Henry Crocombe has been drafted into the squad as cover after impressing in county cricket and for the England Lions. Crocombe has taken 21 wickets in Division One this season and recently claimed 4 for 65 against South Africa A.
Jofra Archer now finds himself firmly in contention for a Test return after rejoining the squad following his IPL commitments. England also have Matthew Fisher and Sonny Baker available as seam-bowling options.
Ollie Robinson’s career takes another hit
The injury is obviously quite frustrating for Ollie Robinson, given the effort he put into earning a recall. The 32-year-old had not played a Test since the Ranchi Test against India in February 2024, where a back injury severely restricted him.
Fitness concerns have followed Robinson throughout his international career despite an impressive Test record of 76 wickets at an average of 22.92. Ahead of this season, he worked extensively on his conditioning and was appointed Sussex’s red-ball captain.
Meanwhile, England could receive a boost elsewhere. Stokes is expected to turn out for Durham in the County Championship while New Zealand have brought in Will Young following Kane Williamson’s retirement from international cricket.
England’s squad for 2nd New Zealand Test
Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox (wk), Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew (wk), Ollie Robinson, Joe Root (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Henry Crocombe
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