Ollie Robinson "knocking on Test door" after "magnificent" Sussex performance

Robinson, who has begun this season under pressure, took seven wickets in the match - including three late, crucial blows - as Sussex won a thriller against Yorkshire

Nick Friend | 19/05/2024 at 20:40

Sussex captain John Simpson was full of praise for Ollie Robinson after the England seamer bowled his side to a thrilling 21-run victory over Yorkshire.

Robinson, 30, has begun this season under the microscope, with the bowler himself telling The Cricketer in pre-season that this was a "make or break summer" for his international career after a disappointing tour of India and a slew of niggling injury issues.

There has never been any doubting his ability – he has 76 Test wickets at 22.92 apiece – but his fitness has been criticised at times.

Robinson gets Lyth! 👏 pic.twitter.com/vx1fbUPrcy
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 19, 2024

In March, Rob Key told the Daily Telegraph that Robinson "is one of the best bowlers in the world at 83mph, but not at 75mph". And more recently, the England Men's managing director told the Test Match Special County Cricket podcast that Robinson had "to find ways to find rhythm quicker".

"We have been pretty clear with Ollie," he said. "When he is at his best he is a very good bowler. When he's not, down at 78 or 79mph, he goes back into the pack."

Robinson missed Sussex's defeat by Glamorgan last week but returned to deliver his best performance of the fledgling campaign, picking up seven wickets in the match, including a trio of key scalps in a late spell of 3 for 7 in five overs that ultimately clinched a win for Sussex. His dismissal of Adam Lyth, with a sharp delivery that rose sharply on the former England opener who could only glove behind, was a particularly positive sign.

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^{Ollie Robinson put in a superb display for Sussex on Sunday (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)}

Simpson described his performance as "magnificent in this game", speaking to the ECB Reporters Network.

"He looks back to where he should be, knocking on that Test door," he added of Robinson, who had taken eight wickets in his first three matches of the summer. "That was terrific bowling by him at the end."

Ottis Gibson, England's former fast-bowling coach now in charge at Yorkshire, also singled out "a really good spell" from Robinson, who also dismissed Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood in both innings.

"He’s an international bowler and knocked our tail over. The irony is that I've been wanting someone to knock tailenders over when we're bowling, but he's done it to us."

Sussex won by 21 runs, with Ben Coad the last man out, run out by a Fynn Hudson-Prentice direct hit.

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