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'He’s Got Unbelievable Skills…,’ Ben Stokes Lauds Ollie Robinson Ahead Of Fourth Test

image-lsx7s0msOllie Robinson (X.com)

England captain Ben Stokes showered praise on pacer Ollie Robinson during Wednesday's press conference, highlighting the hard work Robinson has put in despite not featuring in the first three Test matches against India.

Robinson is set to play his first game on the Indian tour in the fourth Test scheduled to begin from Friday. 

The Sussex bowler faces a significant challenge in unfamiliar conditions, having not played competitive cricket since suffering a back spasm midway through the Third Ashes Test at Headingley last year. England opted for a spin-heavy balance in the opening two Tests, delaying Robinson's inclusion.

Acknowledging the challenge Robinson faced in being left out of the playing XI for the initial Tests, Stokes commended his dedication and efforts during his time on the sidelines. 

"He has worked incredibly hard while he has been out here. And it is tough for someone like Ollie, who’s played such a big part in the game over the last two years, where he has not taken part in a game and the stuff he has done away from the game itself has been very good," Stokes said during the press-conference.

Stokes further lauded Robinson's skills, underlining his potential to excel as a bowler.

"He’s got unbelievable skills to be a successful bowler anywhere in the world. What we’ve seen in England is he’s very skilful, but we’ve seen more than that in Pakistan. It’s similar but different here, but the skill he possesses, he can find any movement, and his release point is always going to be dangerous," Stokes added.

Robinson replaces fast bowler Mark Wood in the playing XI, making one of two changes to the team, while Shoaib Bashir is chosen over Rehan Ahmed for the other change.

Robinson's versatility and effectiveness on slow pitches were evident during England's tour of Pakistan last winter, where he claimed nine wickets at an average of 21. Notably, his performance played a crucial role in England's series-clinching victory in Multan. 

The decision to bring Robinson into the side, replacing Mark Wood, aims to inject fresh energy into the bowling attack, particularly considering the workload management of players like Wood and James Anderson.

With England trailing 2-1 in the series following a heavy defeat in Rajkot, the inclusion of Robinson underscores the team's determination to bounce back and force a series decider in Dharamshala.