Ollie Robinson: Bazball was so fun – but England need to win games

Ollie Robinson believes England’s Test team can look forward to an exciting future under new coach Stephen Fleming following a summer of turmoil which he admits has left the players shocked. The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the New Zealander’s appointment on Thursday after sacking Brendon McCullum just over a fortnight ago. That decision came in the wake of Ben Stokes’ shock retirement during the third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge – a match England lost to fall to their first home defeat in a series of three or more matches since 2012. Now Robinson, who is fighting fit ahead of the start of England’s next series against Pakistan on 19 August, is hopeful Fleming can get the team back to winning ways after a run of form that has seen them lose seven of their past nine Tests. “It’s always a novelty getting someone new in,” Robinson told The i Paper. “I haven’t come across Stephen Fleming but I’ve heard good things. So that will be interesting to see how he wants to play – another Kiwi. We’ll see how we go. It’s exciting. “Whenever you get a change it’s always exciting just to see how it’s going to be, how the group’s going to go. It’s about winning games of cricket at the end of the day. I think we maybe went away from that too much but playing with Baz and Ben was so fun and enjoyable. It’s a shame that’s finished but I’m excited someone new is coming in.” ‘I was gutted Ben Stokes retired’ Robinson admits Ben Stokes’ retirement took him by surprise (Photo: Getty) The Sussex seamer produced a man-of-the-match performance against New Zealand at Lord’s in June, taking seven wickets in his first Test appearance in more than two years. He was rested for the second Test after feeling soreness in his right knee and was overlooked for the series finale at Trent Bridge. But he says the retirement of Stokes, announced to the team before the fourth morning in Nottingham, came as a bolt from the blue for everyone in the dressing-room. “I think we were all a bit shocked really when he did retire,” Robinson said. “I was gutted because I loved playing under him and with him. And now Baz [has gone]. Obviously, he’s said he didn’t get the results he wanted but those two at the top were great to play under. “It’s a shame but I think it happens, doesn’t it, in English cricket? My first Ashes was Chris Silverwood’s last [as coach in 2021-22]. You just have those cycles where you get a change and you go again.” Historical concerns about his fitness Robinson says he has been working hard on strength and conditioning (Photo: Getty) Robinson’s 82 wickets at 21.91 across 21 Tests means he is likely to be central to Fleming’s plans when he takes over. The only doubt throughout his career have been the fitness issues that have plagued the seamer. The 32-year-old admits his body wasn’t quite ready for the rigours of Test cricket when he was recalled at the start of the summer. But since Lord’s, Robinson has only played twice for Sussex – a T20 at the end of June and, after almost a month off, a One-Day Cup match against Essex at Arundel on Wednesday. He has used that time away to build up his strength and conditioning under the guidance of England’s medical team and director of cricket Rob Key. “At the start of the season I wasn’t expecting to get back into the England squad,” Robinson said. “I knew I had a bit of work to do to get back to where I wanted to be, so I took a little four-week block to work on body fitness and get a bit stronger. “There was a lot more running, bike sessions. I’ve been working closely with England on that. They’ve set a programme for me and a schedule to follow. It’s been good. “I’ve had some good communication with Rob Key the last few weeks. I’ve just got to get myself in the best physical condition I can to be ready for Pakistan and hopefully I get picked. “Lord’s was an incredible game. It was the perfect pitch to return on to be honest. I think luck was in my favour a little bit there but it was great to be back and although there’s a bit going on behind the scenes it’s just about getting myself as right as possible and ready for selection if it comes.” ‘England have to be ruthless’ Fleming will not start his new role until later this year, with Marcus Trescothick taking interim charge for the Pakistan series. Robinson, though, believes England cannot use the off-field turmoil as an excuse and need to be ruthless against Pakistan so they can build momentum ahead of next summer’s Ashes. “I think we have to be ruthless, we have to go and try and win it 3-0 from the get-go,” he said. “We can’t glide into this series because there’s been change and just expect to win. “We have to put our foot down and use this series to show how we want to win games of cricket moving forward. I think winning 3-0 would be the best answer to that.” Read more Chris Stocks: England may as well hand the Ashes to Australia now Cheat or genius? The mystery spinner causing a stir in the Hundred As for the Ashes, England have 10 Tests between now and the first Test against Australia at Trent Bridge on 18 June next year, with the three Tests in South Africa this winter a significant staging post before trying to regain the urn for the first time since 2015. “South Africa will be a good test,” Robinson says. “I think the Test matches we’ve got between now and the Ashes will be a good challenge. “The next 12 months are big for English cricket. Let’s get the fans back onside and see what we can do.”