Opportunity knocks: Ollie Robinson will hope to impress Brendon McCullum and Rob Key in Canterbury
(Picture: REUTERS)Ollie Robinson has a chance this week to stake a claim for a Test recall midway through a year of frustration when he turns out for England Lions against South Africa.
Robinson was on Tuesday morning confirmed in the Lions 12 to take on a South African 13 in a four-day game that is not carrying first-class status. It provides preparation for the three-Test series which begins next Wednesday at Lord’s.
The game against the tourists, with coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key watching closely, represents a prime opportunity for Robinson and other fringe internationals (seven of the XI have Test caps) to stake a claim for a Test place this month. The Lions lost the toss, and were asked to bowl, meaning Robinson was straight into the action.
Robinson made a superb impact in his first summer as a Test cricketer, taking 28 wickets at an average under 20 in 2021. He performed solidly in Australia, too, averaging 26.
But it was during the Ashes that questions about his fitness and professionalism began to emerge and he pulled up injured in Hobart, leading to public criticism from the bowling coach, Jon Lewis.
Nevertheless, he was selected ahead of James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the tour of the Caribbean, where back spasms and general lack of fitness prevented him from playing in any of the three Tests in a series England lost. Four of the five specialist seamers England used have not played since the tour due to injury.
Robinson has since struggled with further back injuries, dental issues and Covid-19, which have limited him to just three Championship matches this season. He has, though, found time to pick up two five-wicket hauls.
South Africa naming 13 players betrayed an uncertainty over their Test lineup, even after a good home summer in which they beat India and Bangladesh and drew with New Zealand.
Their primary headache is the fitness of Kagiso Rabada. He picked up an ankle injury during the T20 series against England, and South Africa, according to skipper Dean Elgar, have made it their “top priority” to get him fit. Whether he will have the overs under his belt to play a Test is unclear.
They do have other seam-bowling options: Lungi Ngidi, the rapid Anrich Nortje, Duanne Olivier and Marco Jansen are all on tour. With Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer in the squad, they may also be tempted to go with two spinners, especially at Old Trafford or the Oval at the tail-end of a hot summer.
The batting is more of a headache. Temba Bavuma, consistent since they last played England, is missing with injury, which means two of Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton (who has had a strong spell with Northamptonshire) will slot into the middle order. Since their last meeting with England, No3 Keegan Petersen and keeper-bat Kyle Verreynne have emerged as solid options.
