Recalled Robinson one of best bowlers in the world - Key

Breaking news from the world of sport: Robinson one of best bowlers in the world - KeyImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Robinson has taken 17 wickets at 26. 17 in five County Championship outings for Sussex in 2026ByStephan Shemilt Cricket CorrespondentPublished16 minutes agoEngland director of cricket Rob Key said Ollie Robinson is "one of the best bowlers in the world" after ending the Sussex seamer's two-year international exile. Robinson was dropped after the tour of India in 2024 but has been recalled for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, England's first since the 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.

The 32-year-old has a superb Test record, with 76 wickets at an average of 22. 92 from his 20 matches. He has often struggled for fitness and was hit by back problems in each of his previous two appearances – against India in Ranchi two years ago and against Australia at Headingley in 2023.

Match Details

"What we said to him and publicly is when he's fit and bowling at a decent pace for him, around 82 or 83mph, he is world class," said Key. "When you look at his record he is one of the bowlers right up there statistically, among all the bowlers, of all time. "We've monitored him a lot.

It looks like he's back up to his full fitness and that's what we required of him. "Robinson made his Test debut against New Zealand at Lord's in 2021. On the first day of that match, historic social media posts of a racist and sexist nature that he made eight years previously came to light.

Robinson immediately apologised but was dropped for the next Test. Nevertheless, he emerged as an apparent new-ball heir to James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England's two most successful bowlers of all time. His career has been dogged by injury problems.

Reactions and Expectations

He missed all three Tests on the tour of West Indies in 2022 because of the back injury. Despite claiming to have dedicated himself to fitness when he returned to the England team later that summer, Robinson left the England attack short against Australia in Leeds and India in Ranchi, where he also dropped a crucial catch. Also on the tour of India, Robinson published a podcast made with his partner, the golf influencer Mia Baker.

The contents irritated the England and Wales Cricket Board and it was eventually taken down. England head coach Brendon McCullum, a New Zealander, is a well-known advocate of the All Blacks rugby team's philosophies around team harmony, but Key maintained Robinson's absence was only ever due to fitness rather than a clash of personalities. "I don't think Ollie has ever been a problem in our set-up," said Key.

"He's not someone who's disruptive. You just need to trust you know what you're going to get. That's pretty much what we said.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.