Following India’s stunning victory at Lord’s, the hosts came back to win the third Test match. In both aspects, England absolutely outplayed India.
The squad was dismissed at 78 in the first innings, then after surrendering a vast lead of 354 runs in the second innings, they were dismissed at 278. Ollie Robinson’s five-wicket haul was important in England’s triumph. Rob Key, a former England cricketer, has heaped admiration on Robinson.
With 16 wickets, Ollie Robinson is the leading wicket-taker in the Test match series between India and England. In the third Test at Headingley, he was named Player of the Match. Rob Key feels that the England pacer entered the Test cricket arena with the right skills to succeed in this format.
“Robinson has arrived at Test level with the skills to succeed, but also confidence. That partly comes from his superb first-class record as Sussex’s attack leader (he has taken 275 wickets at under 21 for them), but I also think it is an attitude that is innate. He is not afraid of anyone. He does not care for the batter’s reputation. Most of us come into Test cricket timid, thinking “let’s see how this goes”. Not Robinson,” Rob Key wrote in his column for Yahoo Sport.
Robinson has been efficient: Rob Key
Robinson bowled Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant in the first innings, assisting James Anderson. In the second innings, he led the pace attack to seal the victory for the hosts. In the third Test match, he took eight wickets in total. Rob Key writes about Robinson’s bowling and why he has been so successful.
Rob Key further write that, “What makes Robinson so effective now? Well, he is no quicker than many bowlers around the country, but a little like Glenn McGrath and Josh Hazlewood – who have similarly high release points – he puts the ball in an extremely awkward place, exactly where batters don’t want it.
“Most bowlers try to hit the top of off, but these guys seem to get more out of the pitch, and more lateral movement.”
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