Ollie Robinson feared he ‘was never playing for England again’ before stunning comeback

Ollie Robinson’s remarkable spell decimated New Zealand on a thrilling opening day. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Ollie Robinson’s remarkable spell decimated New Zealand on a thrilling opening day. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Ollie Robinson feared he ‘was never playing for England again’ before stunning comeback Bowler takes four wickets for 10 runs in six overs ‘I was just on cloud nine. My legs were numb’ Ollie Robinson admitted that just a few months ago he “thought I was never playing for England again” after he produced an extraordinary comeback performance on the first day of the Test summer, a return that started with a three-wicket maiden and saw him finish with figures of four wickets for 10 runs in six overs. The 32-year-old was dropped in 2024 amid doubts over his fitness and commitment, and while England were collapsing to defeat in the Ashes – a failure that precipitated his return – he was also in Australia, rediscovering his appetite for the game playing grade cricket for Sydney University. Robinson’s three-wicket-over revives England after New Zealand skittle hosts “At Christmas time I thought I was never playing for England again. I was nowhere near ready to play or anywhere near where I am now as a person, as a cricketer,” Robinson said of last winter. “It’s only been the last few months that I’ve got the enjoyment back for the game and knuckled down a bit more. I went to Australia and got the love of the game back. I’ve put in a lot of work over the last couple of months to get back to the bowler I want to be. I’m not the finished article , but those [moments] definitely make it all worthwhile.” After losing the toss England were bowled out for 140, but a rain-interrupted opening day they had seized the initiative 61 for six. Just two overs into their reply the tourists were two for three, with Robinson in the middle of a huddle of celebrating teammates and the Lord’s crowd singing his name. “There was a point where I couldn’t really hear it,” he said. “I was just on cloud nine, I suppose. My legs were numb and I couldn’t hear anything and I was trying to calm myself down and focus on the moment, but I think after the second wicket that’s probably the loudest [noise] I’ve ever heard on a cricket field.