England bowler Ollie Robinson expressed his joy after a successful return to the team on the first day of the Test match against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4. This marked his first International appearance in over 800 days.
Robinson started strong, taking three wickets in his opening over and finished the day with impressive figures of 4 for 10. He dismissed opener Devon Conway with a delivery that trapped him lbw, and quickly followed up by removing Kane Williamson, who edged the ball to Emilio Gay at short leg. He then trapped Rachin Ravindra lbw and bowled Daryl Mitchell four overs later with a ball that moved in sharply.
“I’m so speechless about how it’s gone – I couldn’t have dreamt up that day. When we lost the toss and had to bowl, we were hoping to bat all day, but it didn’t go our way. As a bowling unit, we were right on it from the start. It’s been such a special day; I have no words,” Robinson told BBC Test Match Special.
Robinson’s comeback follows a significant reset for England after their 4-1 loss in the Ashes series. The team was in need of a leading bowler capable of maintaining pressure with consistent length. This need played a role in his re-selection.
He also addressed the effort he put in before this series, admitting he wasn’t ready for a call-up when he was in Australia playing club Cricket.
“I was nowhere near ready to play or at the level I am now as a person and cricketer,” he reflected on missing the Ashes. “In the last few months, I’ve rediscovered my enjoyment for the game. I played some grade cricket in Australia, which helped me get my passion back. The wickets may have suited my style, but I still had hard work ahead of me,” he explained.
Robinson was dropped from the team in 2024 due to fitness concerns and some off-field issues. Before his exclusion, he had taken 76 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 22.92. Now, as the Sussex captain in the County Championship, he was in line for a return, especially as the need for a new-ball bowler grew.
“When I got the call from [Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket] and the message from [head coach Brendon McCullum], I knew I had to put in a lot of effort. I’ve worked hard these past months, but I’m not the finished product yet,” he said.
“Stokesy told me last week, ‘great to have you back, but just know the hard work continues,’ and that’s what I’m focused on. Days like these are what you play for, but there’s still more to do. It feels great to wear the England shirt again,” he added.
England batted first, getting bowled out for 140 runs, with Kyle Jamieson taking 5 for 62. Harry Brook contributed a solid 56 off 71 balls, helping the team set a competitive score on a pitch supportive of seam bowlers. Robinson’s early wickets and contributions from Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue left New Zealand struggling at 61 for 6, with 16 wickets falling in a day interrupted by rain.