Bowler was praised by India’s captain, Virat Kohli, after taking five wickets in the second innings at HeadingleyThe narrative arc of Ollie Robinson’s summer would startle the chiselled hero of a summer beach bonk-buster. From hero to villain and back again, from county pro on the south coast to man of the match here, from being hauled up and suspended over past racist tweets to contemplating a long future as an England player. Pinch yourself, Ollie, how the worm turns.Two wickets in the first innings were complemented by a beautifully crafted five in the second, to bowl England to a comprehensive innings victory well before lunch. After sending back the dangerous Rohit Sharma on Friday evening the rest came on...
Bowler was praised by India’s captain, Virat Kohli, after taking five wickets in the second innings at HeadingleyThe narrative arc of Ollie Robinson’s summer would startle the chiselled hero of a summer beach bonk-buster. From hero to villain and back again, from county pro on the south coast to man of the match here, from being hauled up and suspended over past racist tweets to contemplating a long future as an England player. Pinch yourself, Ollie, how the worm turns.Two wickets in the first innings were complemented by a beautifully crafted five in the second, to bowl England to a comprehensive innings victory well before lunch. After sending back the dangerous Rohit Sharma on Friday evening the rest came on...
The batsman with impossibly high standards has found it difficult in England this summer and his team are sufferingVirat Kohli walked. He had poked outside off, Jos Buttler pouched the ball, the cordon went up in appeal in chorus to the ringmaster, Jimmy Anderson, and India’s fight in the third Test was dead in the water. Except it was not. Doing his duty as vice-captain and non-striker, Ajinkya Rahane prevailed on Kohli to review the decision.The third umpire saw clearly the same daylight between bat and ball that Rahane had, and technology confirmed that the sound that so enthused England and foxed the umpire came from bat brushing pad. It was the last ball of the 87th over and, for...
The batsman with impossibly high standards seems to have lost track of his off stump and his team are sufferingVirat Kohli walked. He had poked outside off, Jos Buttler pouched the ball, the cordon went up in appeal in chorus to the ringmaster, Jimmy Anderson, and India’s fight in the third Test was dead in the water. Except it was not. Doing his duty as vice-captain and non-striker, Ajinkya Rahane prevailed on Kohli to review the decision.The third umpire saw clearly the same daylight between bat and ball that Rahane had, and technology confirmed that the sound that so enthused England and foxed the umpire came from bat brushing pad. It was the last ball of the 87th over and,...
With the Ashes three months away, Malan returned to Test cricket and showed why he belongs on the biggest stageIt always comes back to Australia. The tour that was, the home series to come. Every two years, a relentless obsession for English cricket. A trap.And now, with only two and a half Tests left of the summer before a possible winter tour down under (Covid permitting), thoughts intensify. Performances count double through a baggy-green lens. England, despite a confusion of planning – at times too clever by half – of who to rest and when, the Ashes roadmap unfurled, seem to have fallen on their feet. A No 3 has appeared. He was, it turns out, hiding in plain sight...