Ollie Robinson might just be on the verge of a remarkable Test comeback, and he’s got the backing of England’s top brass to prove it. The Sussex seamer, who has been out of the international spotlight since the early 2024 tour of India, has revealed that head coach Brendon McCullum has been in touch—a clear signal that the door to the England squad is far from closed.
Robinson’s absence from the Test side has been surrounded by whispers of fitness concerns and rumored friction with McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. But the 32-year-old is letting his performances do the talking. With a stellar Test record of 76 wickets at an average of just 23, he’s exactly the kind of new-ball option England could use for their upcoming three-match series against New Zealand.
Now leading Sussex as red-ball captain, Robinson has been carefully managing his workload this season, especially with the county short on seam depth. But he’s not just a bowler—he stunned everyone with a brilliant century batting from No. 10 on the opening day of the County Championship clash against Surrey. That kind of all-round grit is exactly what the England setup values.
After that match, Robinson opened up about the encouragement he’s received from the England camp. “It was nice to get those messages and calls from Keysy (Rob Key, ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket),” he said. “At the start of the year, when I wanted to take the captaincy on, I didn’t realise the door was still open—I thought it was closed. Those messages spurred me on.”
He was quick to dismiss any lingering tension. “I have never had any issues with England. I love Stokesy as a guy, I really enjoyed Baz when I played under him. A few things went on in India, but I don’t know what they really were. We never ironed anything out if there were big issues, but to get the message from Baz and calls from Keysy suggests whatever it was has been left behind. The door is open and I just need to perform to get back in. It’s nice to know performances can get me back in rather than anything else.”
For now, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson look set to lead England’s seam attack in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, starting June 4. Jofra Archer is currently lighting up the IPL and could join the series later. But with Robinson’s form and renewed confidence, don’t be surprised if he’s soon back in the whites, charging in for England once more.