Yahoo Finance Ollie Robinson ‘could bowl first ball of Test match tomorrow’, says Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad has backed Sussex quick OIlie Robinson to make the step up to Test cricket, saying he is ready “to bowl the first ball in a Test match tomorrow”.
Robinson is today set to be named in England’s squad to face New Zealand at Lord’s and Edgbaston after 12 months mixing with the likes of Broad and Jimmy Anderson in various biosecure bubbles.
“He’s a good bowler – what I love about him is he makes the batsmen play, consistently makes them make decisions all the time,” said Broad, who was coaching schoolchildren at Hague Primary School in East London with Chance to Shine and Lifebuoy. “He’s got a wicket taking knack which is a good sign.”
Robinson has 195 first-class wickets at 17 since the start of the 2018 season.
“You only have to look at his stats over the last three years,” said Broad. “He has consistently done really well and if he was thrown in at Lord’s or Edgbaston I would have no doubts he is ready for that challenge.
“He is someone who has been around all winter, has learnt a lot from seeing the difference between county and international level and if he had to bowl the first ball in Test match tomorrow I would have no issue with him doing that.”
Robinson is set to be one of two uncapped players in a 15-man squad announced today, alongside Gloucestershire batsman James Bracey. Craig Overton is set for a recall, while Olly Stone and Mark Wood will also offer pace options alongside Broad and Anderson.
England are missing Jofra Archer through injury, as well as Chris Woakes, Sam Curran and Jos Buttler, who are in quarantine having returned from the IPL.
Broad, who will play one more Championship match for Nottinghamshire this week, believes the absence of some players will help England’s Ashes preparation.
“We have a really good armoury of fast bowlers at the moment,” he said. “We’ve all watched a lot of Ashes series over the years and you lose bowlers in those series. It’s intense, it’s hard, and you need a back up and there are some talented cricketers around the county scene.”
Read More
Stuart Broad: England selector Ed Smith didn’t rate me as much as others, I had to prove him wrong
Jofra Archer out of England Test series vs New Zealand with elbow injury
