England bowler Ollie Robinson is expected to be sidelined for at least a couple more weeks after receiving a pain-killing injection in his back.
Robinson is one of eight fast bowlers capped since the start of 2021 who are currently unavailable to England, and it now appears unlikely that he will be available before the Test series against South Africa in August.
He looks set to miss Sussex’s Championship match against Glamorgan on Sunday. Their next match is two weeks later, which would likely be too late to prove his fitness to play the Test against India on July 1.
Robinson’s fitness has become a saga this year. After a sensational first summer in Test cricket and a solid showing in the first three Ashes ties, he missed the first Test of the year, in Sydney, through injury before returning in Hobart, where he suffered back spasms.
During that Test, after private conversations with England’s management about his general approach to conditioning, he was publicly criticised by Jon Lewis, the England bowling coach.
On the tour of West Indies, when he was set to lead England’s attack, he struggled with his back again, and failed to take the field in any of the three Tests.
And in the early part of this summer, his appearances for Sussex have been limited by a variety of issues. He suffered dental problems and further back issues, which ruled him out of playing against New Zealand for a County Select XI a fortnight ago.
He subsequently tested positive for Covid-19, which delayed the full assessment of his back injury while he isolated. Robinson has now recovered from the virus, but initial scans have proved inconclusive. He has had an injection, with further assessment expected next week.
England already have a raft of bowlers out with back injuries. Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood and Matt Fisher will miss the whole summer, while the Curran brothers, Sam and Tom, are working their way back to full fitness, as is Olly Stone. Mark Wood (elbow) and Chris Woakes (knee and shoulder) are also out injured.
