ENG vs NZ 1st Test: Ollie Robinson eyeing Kane Williamson’s wicket on potential Test debut

Sussex fast-bowler Ollie Robinson expressed his wish to get the prized scalp of New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson on his likely Test debut for England this week at Lord’s. Robinson, in fact, has planned in detail how he could potentially get the better of Williamson on his maiden outing at the Test level.

Ollie Robinson’s long-awaited debut could materialise in the absence of England’s first-choice quick Jofra Archer, as he could join veterans James Anderson and Stuart Broad as the third seamer for the first of the two Tests against the Black Caps, starting Wednesday (June 2).

Aware that he is close to realising his dream, Robinson spoke of how he has prepared earnestly for the Kiwi top 6, especially Williamson, and is hoping for a successful initiation as a Test match cricketer. He went on to explain how he has planned to dismiss the great New Zealand batsman.

“I can’t say too much in case the New Zealand guys see this but I have done a lot of work on their top four. Kane Williamson is obviously the main one,” Ollie Robinson was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.

“It looks like swinging the ball away from him, setting him up, pulling him across and then using the crease with the nip backer to get him lbw looks like a solid option. That will be Plan A and if he gets runs we’ve got Plans B and C in the background,” he added.

Ollie Robinson has impressive overall numbers – 236 wickets at an average of 22.33 while striking every 44 balls, and he might just be the next big fast bowler in England cricket

Ollie Robinson eyeing Kane Williamson’s wicket on likely Test debut at Lord’s

Heading into the Kiwi Tests, Ollie Robison displayed very good form playing for Sussex in the first half of the County Championship season. The 27-year-old right-arm quick bagged 29 scalps from his 5 matches at an average of just 14.72 before joining the England camp for the start of the international summer. In his overall first-class career, Ollie Robinson has taken 279 wickets from 63 matches at an average of just 21.04, including 16 five-wicket hauls.

Robinson has had quite a turnaround in his career after being infamously sacked by Yorkshire due to issues related to professionalism as a teenager. The pacer credits Paul Farbrace and Jason Gillespie as the two pivotal figures behind his rejuvenation. Gillespie was coach of Yorkshire when the prominent club dropped Robinson, but went on to nurture the pacer when he joined Sussex.

“I’m a changed character when I go on the field. It just gives me a little boost when I’m able to go at good players. There’s an edge to me that people might not have seen in county cricket and I will be getting in New Zealand’s faces,” said Robinson.

Ollie Robinson said his relationship with Gillespie has improved and “blossomed” over the years. “We spoke on the phone, cleared the air and moved on from there. Our relationship has blossomed from there. Jason helped me be professional and encouraged that elite mentality on the field,” he added. “Since then, we’ve had a great relationship and I still talk to him now.”