Ollie Robinson, the English cricketer, has expressed indifference towards how his celebration for dismissing Usman Khawaja was viewed by the Australian team during The Ashes 2023.
During the third day of the first Test, Robinson, a seamer, appeared to direct an expletive towards Khawaja after taking his wicket for 141 runs. England ended the rain-affected day on 28-2, with a lead of 35 runs at Edgbaston.
Robinson dismissed concerns about his actions by citing instances of Ricky Ponting and other Australian players behaving similarly towards the English team in the past. He emphasized that reactions to such incidents vary when the roles are reversed.
The 29-year-old Robinson stated that he had not been contacted by the match referee and declined to comment on whether he expected any consequences.
“As this is my first home Ashes Test, capturing such a crucial wicket was a special moment for me,” said Robinson, who represents Sussex. “Khawaja played remarkably well, so getting his wicket was significant. We want the intensity and drama of the game, and I aim to contribute to that.”
When asked whether his outburst towards Khawaja might make him a target for the Australians, Robinson responded, “I’m not concerned about how it’s perceived. This is the Ashes, a professional sport. If you can’t handle the intensity, what can you handle?”
Alex Carey, the Australian wicketkeeper, stated that he did not witness the incident, and Khawaja had not discussed it.
“In the Ashes, cricket can be thrilling and fiercely competitive,” Carey commented. “From our perspective, there were no comments made from our dressing room.”
Robinson’s dismissal of Khawaja sparked a remarkable Sunday morning for England, leading to a collapse of the Australian tail, with the last four wickets falling for just 14 runs.
Khawaja, who had batted for over eight hours, fell victim to a plan devised by captain Ben Stokes. England set an unusual field of three close catchers on each side of the wicket, and Khawaja was bowled by a yorker when attempting to hit through the off side.
Robinson revealed that the plan originated from England’s successful series in Pakistan, where they won 3-0 on unresponsive pitches.
“Stokesy approached me the ball before and asked, ‘What did we do in Pakistan?'” said Robinson, who recorded figures of 3-55. “It was one of those plans that worked perfectly, making Stokesy look like a genius.”
Australia was eventually bowled out for 386, giving England a first-innings lead of seven runs. However, rain in Birmingham limited play to only 22 balls after 14:15 BST, during which Australia took the wickets of England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley under floodlights.
This aggressive display was the first significant show of aggression from the Australian team in the match. Prior to that, they had adopted a defensive approach both in the field and with the bat, which Robinson attributed to England’s playing style.
“Our batting and bowling have forced them to adopt a defensive strategy,” explained Robinson. “We’ve dictated their approach through our style of play. It’s not something you usually see from an Australian side, but our tactics are causing them to react that way.”
With more rain predicted for the fifth day, England may need to make a decision regarding a declaration in order to provide enough time to bowl Australia out on a deteriorating pitch in the second innings.
“Ideally, we would like a full day,” Robinson commented. “If Australia had a target to chase, having 90 overs would give us a chance to dismiss them. However, if they intend to play for a draw or continue their defensive approach as seen in this game so far, the situation would be different.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about cricket celebration
What was Ollie Robinson’s reaction to his celebration for Usman Khawaja’s wicket in The Ashes 2023?
Ollie Robinson expressed that he does not care about how his celebration was perceived in the Australia dressing room. He compared it to similar actions by Ricky Ponting and other Australian players in the past, stating that the intensity of the Ashes demands such reactions.
Was Ollie Robinson contacted by the match referee regarding his celebration?
As of now, Ollie Robinson has not been contacted by the match referee. He did not comment on whether he expected any consequences for his actions.
How did Ollie Robinson’s dismissal of Usman Khawaja impact the game?
Ollie Robinson’s dismissal of Usman Khawaja was a turning point in the match. It triggered a collapse of the Australian tail, with the last four wickets falling for just 14 runs. It was a crucial wicket considering Khawaja’s impressive batting performance.
Did the Australian team react to Ollie Robinson’s celebration?
According to Alex Carey, the Australian wicketkeeper, he did not witness the incident, and Usman Khawaja had not mentioned it. There were no comments made from the Australian dressing room regarding the celebration.
How did England’s tactics influence the Australian team’s defensive approach?
Ollie Robinson mentioned that England’s batting and bowling strategies forced Australia into a defensive mindset. Their style of play dictated the approach of the Australian team, leading them to play defensively, which is not typically seen from an Australian side in the Ashes.
What was the plan behind Usman Khawaja’s dismissal?
Captain Ben Stokes devised a plan inspired by their successful series in Pakistan. England set an unorthodox field with three close catchers on each side of the wicket, and Khawaja was bowled by a yorker when attempting to hit through the off side.
What is the potential impact of rain on the remaining days of the match?
Rain has affected the match, and there are predictions of more wet weather. England may need to consider declaring their innings to give themselves enough time to bowl Australia out on a deteriorating pitch in the second innings. The availability of overs would depend on the scenario, whether Australia has a target to chase or adopts a defensive approach for a draw.
More about cricket celebration
- Ollie Robinson takes indifferent stance on celebration controversy
- The Ashes 2023: Robinson unapologetic about celebration
- England vs. Australia: First Test highlights
- Ollie Robinson’s interview on his dismissal of Usman Khawaja
- Analysis of England’s tactics in The Ashes 2023
- Weather forecast for remaining days of the Test match
5 comments
interesting to see england’s tactics working against khawaja. the unorthodox field and the yorker from robinson did the trick. stokes seems like a genius captain! can’t wait to see how the rest of the match unfolds. #AshesStrategies
who cares if robinson’s celebration upset the aussies? they’ve done worse in the past! good on him for taking such an important wicket. let’s see more drama in this series! #BringOnTheAshes
rain playing spoilsport in the ashes again? it’s frustrating to see limited play. hope we get some action in the remaining days. fingers crossed for clear skies! #RainRainGoAway
as a khawaja fan, i don’t like seeing him get dismissed, but i understand the intensity of the ashes. robinson’s celebration is part of the game. looking forward to seeing khawaja bounce back stronger! #UsmanTheWall
ollie robinson doesnt care bout how his celebration waz seen by the aussie dressing room! its da ashes man, u gotta b intense n show emotions. he made a gr8 impact with that wicket of khawaja. go england! #Ashes2023