England director of cricket backs Robinson’s return to first-class standards
The 32-year-old fast bowler ends a two-year international exile to address a vacancy in the attack following the retirements of Anderson, Broad, and Woakes.
England director of cricket Rob Key has formally recalled fast bowler Ollie Robinson for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, ending the 32-year-old’s two-year international exile. The decision addresses a significant vacancy in England’s pace attack following the successive retirements of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Chris Woakes. Robinson, who has taken 17 wickets at an average of 26.17 in five County Championship outings for Sussex in 2026, is set to open the bowling when the series begins on 4 June.
Key described Robinson as “one of the best bowlers in the world” when fit, citing his return to full fitness and his recent appointment as Sussex captain as primary drivers for the selection. The director of cricket noted that Robinson has been monitored closely and appears to have regained the pace required to be effective, averaging around 82 or 83mph. This statistical pedigree, combined with a Test record of 76 wickets at 22.92 from 20 matches, has prompted the England and Wales Cricket Board to reintegrate the seamer into the senior setup.
The recall follows a period of instability for Robinson, who lost his central contract at the end of 2024 after a tour of India in 2024 where he struggled with fitness and dropped a crucial catch. Despite previous controversies, including the discovery of historic social media posts and the removal of a podcast featuring his partner, Key maintained that Robinson’s absence was strictly due to fitness concerns rather than a clash of personalities within the team. He emphasised that Robinson is not a disruptive character and possesses the self-belief required for the role.
Robinson’s current form with Sussex has bolstered his case for selection. Under his captaincy, the county has secured three wins from five matches, and he recently scored an impressive century against Surrey at The Oval. Key praised the move by Sussex coach Paul Farbrace to appoint Robinson as captain, stating it has brought out the best in the player. The director noted that Robinson has started the summer well and has demonstrated the ability to maintain skill and speed throughout a game, a requirement for the new-ball role.
The squad announcement comes amidst a reshuffle of England’s pace options. Other specialist seamers in the squad include Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Fisher, and uncapped Sonny Baker. Several established players are unavailable for the first Test, including Jofra Archer, who has Indian Premier League commitments, Brydon Carse, who has a broken wrist, and Mark Wood, who has no set return date from a knee injury. Matthew Potts has also been left out of the squad.
In a related structural change, Taylor has been appointed as England’s fielding coach in a landmark move, joining head coach Brendon McCullum’s staff. McCullum, who took time off following the T20 World Cup in March, is expected to attend a three-day training camp in Loughborough starting 25 May. The camp will include Robinson and other uncapped players such as James Rew and Emilio Gay, as the team prepares for its first Test since the 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.
