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Ashes 2023 | 'I spoke to Ussie and We Were All...': Robinson On Usman Khawaja's Ugly Send-Off

Vishal Mehra

image-lj82p4s3Ollie Robinson engages in verbal banter with Usman Khawaja on Day 5 [Source: Twitter]

England's pacer Ollie Robinson has been in the media eye ever since he abused Australian batter Usman Khawaja in an aggressive send-off celebration on Day 3 of the first Ashes 2023 Test. Robinson faced a lot of backlash from former Australian players including Matthew Hayden, Allan Border, and Ricky Ponting.

The lanky bowler justified his actions on Day 3 in the presser citing Ponting example, which did not go down well with the former Australian skipper, who asked the bowler to back his talk with skills on the field. Both players were also involved in on-field banter on Day 5, during a drinks break.

Now, writing in his column for Wisden, Robinson explained that the incident with Khawaja happened in the heat of the moment, and he personally has nothing against the left-handed opener.

Here's what Robinson wrote

"I didn’t realise the Ussie [Usman Khawaja] send-off was such a big thing until I got off the pitch to find my phone blowing up with mates texting me and it all going off. I just got caught up in the moment. I was desperate for a wicket.

I hadn’t bowled that well in the first innings, I’d had that slip in my second over and lost a bit of confidence, and then I was trying to feel my way back in a little bit, having not played much for a while. And obviously Ussie was the big wicket, he was playing beautifully. It was nothing against Ussie, it was just one of those things, I got caught up in the moment and let myself go," 

The 29-year-old also revealed that he had a chat with Khawaja and that all is well between the two players.

“We’ve all seen it with Jimmy [Anderson], Broady, [Glenn] McGrath, Brett Lee. All the bowlers do it when they’re fired up and trying to get a wicket for their team. I spoke to Ussie after as well and we were all good. He was just like, “Mate, just be careful what you say.” It was nothing against him and we had a good chat. He’s a nice guy and I’ve always gotten on well with him, having played against him a few times," 

Khawaja was named man of the match in Australia's two-wicket win over England at Edgbaston that went down to the wire. The 36-year-old scored 141 and 65 in the first and second innings, respectively dashing the hosts' hopes of a win.

The second Ashes Test commences from June 28 at Lord's.