Ollie Robinson has been given extra help with working on his fitness by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The England team went to see Coldplay at Wembley last Saturday night and met the band beforehand. Backstage Martin gave Robinson a book on breathing that helped the singer with his temperament and fitness and thought it might do the same for the bowler.
James Anderson, on the Tailenders podcast revealed: “It was such a lovely moment and Ollie Robinson was absolutely blown away by it. It was about breathing and how it helps you fitness and temperament. He said ‘I read it, it was amazing and thought of you and thought it would be great for you.’ This lady came over with the book and handed it over and five minutes later they were out on stage in front of 80,000 people.” Robinson will be given the chance to show just how well a few home truths from his skipper sunk in when he gets to play for the first time under Ben Stokes.
His recall to the Test team for his first match since an ugly finish to the Ashes in Hobart in January is a reward for the work he has put in to get himself fit for purpose in international cricket. The 28-year-old is a clear match-winner at Test level as 39 wickets in nine matches at an average a nudge over 21 proves.
But his first incarnation as a Test bowler was beset by injuries and a body that was unable to cope with the demands of the highest level especially into his third and fourth spells. Publicly shamed by the management at the time, Robinson tried and failed to return in the Caribbean, but after speaking with new skipper Stokes, he is now ready to try and help level the series at Old Trafford in place of Matt Potts.
“I'm very excited for him to be able to put the England shirt on again,” said Stokes. “It's something that he's worked very hard for and he fully deserves it. It’s obviously been a very difficult time for Ollie because it wasn't the fact that his form was letting him down. It was his body. I was very honest and truthful with Robbo. I feel that's something people deserve. Rather than just have a conversation to get through it easily, I'd rather let him know exactly where I stand.
“It enables him to go away and work on what has been asked of him and all I can say is he's done that to the absolute extreme. He's worked hard behind the scenes and all the feedback Robbo has got from myself, the coach, the people who have helped him get where he is now has been nothing but positive.” Standing 6ft 5in with a high arm and strong wrist as he bowls, Robinson has got lots of attributes to make him a high quality Test bowler.
And it is that extra height that Stokes is hopeful can work in England’s favour on a pitch that has historically offered more pace and bounce. “I think we all know what a quality bowler Ollie is, because when he has played for England his skill set on show has been incredible. He gets the most bounce out of our attack, and we think here at Old Trafford that should help because it is generally a slightly quicker wicket than other grounds we play at.”
That extra pace is something that could also play into the hands of the South African bowlers who gave themselves enough down time to be able to fire up just as quickly this week. England though are unlikely to be as tentative in the way they play them this time though, with Stokes urging his players to follow his lead.
“When you’re up against it, then it is a lot easier to take a step back and go into your shell a bit more,” said Stokes. “That’s something we don’t want to creep into this team at the moment. Guys can go out there with confidence and with the backing of the dressing room to put the pressure back on the South African bowlers and I am trying to hit that message home with the way I’m playing.”
