Recalled Robinson one of best bowlers in the world – Key

England 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.

“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. 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.”

Robinson lost his central contract at the end of 2024 and it looked like his England career might be over, or that he would at least need a change of management in order to earn a recall.

However, England were in contact with him at the beginning of the summer, when he was also made Sussex captain. He has led his county to three wins from five matches, taken 17 wickets and scored an impressive century against Surrey at The Oval.

“It’s been a great move from [Sussex coach] Paul Farbrace to make him captain, that has got the best out of him,” said Key.

“Ollie has started the summer really well. Even the other day he said: ‘What do I need to do?’ Well what he needs is to show he can maintain skill and speed throughout the game. That’s what we require and that’s what he’s done.

“Ultimately, it’s up to our set-up to get the best out of people. We don’t want people that all do whatever we say all of the time. You want good characters who have self-belief, which is what Ollie has, along with a huge amount of skill.”

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Robinson joins Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Fisher and the uncapped Sonny Baker as the five specialist seamers in the squad to take on New Zealand from 4 June.

Of the pace bowlers who played for England during the Ashes, Jofra Archer will not be ready for the first Test because of his Indian Premier League commitments and Brydon Carse has a broken wrist. Mark Wood has no set return from a knee injury and Matthew Potts has been left out.

With Broad, Anderson and Chris Woakes all retiring from international cricket in successive years, England have a vacancy for a new-ball bowler and attack leader.

Robinson, never afraid of confronting a batter, will also add some fighting spirit that was occasionally lacking during the Ashes.

Key confirmed he is slated to open the bowling in the first Test and will get a prolonged run in the squad if fitness permits.

“When Ollie Robinson is fit and at his best he is one of the best bowlers in the world,” said Key. “It’s exciting to see him back.

“He’ll take the new ball because he’s one of the best in the world at doing that. There will be lots of different questions asked of him, and Ollie can just do what he’s done for Sussex and what he’s done for England when he’s been at his best.

“If he can show he can maintain and be a threat throughout the game. If he’s as close to his best as he possibly can be, he’s a world-class bowler.”

• Cricket
• England Men’s Cricket Team
• Sussex

• Published