Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has claimed recalled quick Ollie Robinson would have skittled Australia for 30 in the Boxing Day Test … if he had played.
Robinson has been recalled to the England fold for the first Test against New Zealand starting next month.
The match will be England’s first Test since the 4-1 Ashes loss, and Robinson’s first since he was dropped following England’s 2024 tour of India.
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Broad, who claimed 604 poles for the England during a glittering Test career, said Robinson had seemingly fallen out of favour with head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes and was “a little bit surprised” he had been recalled.
Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad and James Anderson in 2022. PA Images via Getty Images
“There must have been a turnaround – I think Robbo said at the start of the summer there’d been a bit of contact [with England],” he said on his For The Love of Cricket podcast.
“I suppose the confusing thing for me is, if he’s good enough to open the bowling (in June) against New Zealand at Lord’s, which he is – he’s a brilliant bowler – why was he not at the Ashes?
“He’d have bowled Australia out for 30 at the MCG with how much that pitch moved. It feels like a complete waste to not use him over the winter in Australia if suddenly he’s now available and able to be used at Lord’s.”
Robinson’s Test career has to-date been marred by injury niggles and fitness concerns, but is superb when fit. From his 20 Tests, the 32-year-old has 76 wickets at an average of 22.92.
Against Australia, Robinson has played seven Tests for 21 wickets at 26.9, with best figures of 3-55.
Following his recall for the New Zealand Test, England’s director of cricket Rob Key said Robinson was “back to his full fitness”.
“When you look at his record, he is of the bowlers right up there statistically, among all the bowlers, of all time,” he said.
Aiding his selection is Jofra Archer’s unavailability for the first Test due to IPL commitments. He is expected to be in the fight for a recall for the second Test at The Oval.
Broad said he was intrigued by the “turnaround” of Robinson’s relationship with McCullum and Stokes that had led to the recall.
Ollie Robinson in action for Sussex in April. Getty
“Has he suddenly improved his fitness or improved his attitude because he was never left out because of performance,” said Broad.
“Not that these guys have ever said this to me, I thought McCullum and Stokes had lost faith and lost trust and that was the end of that.
“I suppose it’s probably a case of who else will take the new ball? The new-ball bowling in the Ashes was awful and they need a new-ball bowler.
“There’s no doubt Ollie is the best new-ball bowler available to England in the country at the moment. He has amazing ability to get the new ball to talk and he gets bounce.
“Rob Key said he’s a world-class bowler at 82-83mph and the test for Robbo is if that 82-83mph stays over three Tests and for every spell without him going off or missing sessions.
“Not many bowlers get another chance when you have been written off for character and attitude.”