Ashes 2023 | 'Robinson Needs to Shoosh,' Michael Clarke Touts Englishman A Club Bowler
Robinson became the talk of the town at Edgbaston (AP Photo)
England pacer Ollie Robinson's ugly send-off to Australia's Usman Khawaja on Day 3 of the first Ashes 2023 Test did not go down well with several former Australian players. Adding to the list of many, former captain Michael Clarke has asked the pacer to "shoosh" and focus on picking up wickets than behave like James Anderson and engage in verbal banter.
Robinson, who maintained that his on-field reaction to Khawaja's wicket was in the heat of the moment, has been facing backlash from former Baggy Green players, who have raised questions about the fast bowler's credentials.
Clarke, speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast, said that if pacers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood were fully fit, Robinson would be nowhere near England's Test side, and playing in the County Championship.
Here's what Clarke said
"He needs to shoosh. If England were fully fit you wouldn’t even get a game, Ollie. If Joffra Archer was playing, or if (Chris) Wood had been playing and was fully fit, old mate — I don’t know what town he plays for — he’d be back playing clubbies."
"… I actually don’t know what he’s doing. If James Anderson is saying all this, he’s got street cred. He’s played 180 Test matches, he’s got a lot of wickets. This dude has been around for five minutes.… He needs to concentrate on taking wickets .. Ollie, just keep taking five-fors and then you can say what you like."
The World Cup-winning captain also questioned Robinson's thoughts on England's loss in his column and said that a win is a win, and a loss is a loss.
Australia, who won the Edgbaston Test by two wickets, have taken a 1-0 lead in the series and will look to increase it further when both teams clash at the mecca of cricket, the Lord's on Wednesday.