England’s already chaotic preparations for this week’s second Test against New Zealand at The Oval have been further hit after it emerged that Ollie Robinson would miss the game because of his knee injury.
Robinson was player of the match at Lord’s, where he began his first Test in more than two years with a triple-wicket maiden and finished with career-best match figures of seven for 77 to seal a 115-run win.
But a scan confirmed what the ECB are describing as ‘soreness’ to his right knee, with Sussex team-mate Henry Crocombe already called up to England’s squad as cover.
The management are hopeful Robinson will be fit for the third Test at Trent Bridge, starting on June 25. But his absence at The Oval – along with Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, both missing while the ECB investigate their curfew-breaking night out after Lord’s – means stand-in captain Joe Root will have to attempt to clinch the series with an almost entirely revamped attack.
Robinson was player of the match at Lord’s, but will miss the second test with a knee injury. However, selectors are hopeful he will be available for the third test at Trent Bridge
England are also missing Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, who have been dropped amid the ECB’s probe into curfew-breaking post-Lord’s night out
Stokes was spotted leaving his home in County Durham on Thursday after being axed from the squad for the second test
Of the four seamers who bowled in the first Test, only Josh Tongue remains, while Jofra Archer is in line for his first appearance of the series after sitting out Lord’s because of his involvement at the IPL.
The uncapped Hampshire quick Sonny Baker and Surrey seamer Matt Fisher, who played his lone Test four years ago, are both in contention, though England must decide whether to omit spinner Shoaib Bashir, who didn’t bowl a ball at Lord’s, or to field four quicks and leave the slow bowling in the hands of Root and Jacob Bethell.
Meanwhile, the ECB have insisted that wicketkeeper Jamie Smith will be available for The Oval, despite his partner being due to give birth to their second child.
