England have been rocked by another setback after one of their in-form bowlers was ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand with a knee injury.
Pace bowler Ollie Robinson has been withdrawn from the Test which starts at the Oval in south London on Wednesday.
Robinson made a superb return from more than two years in international exile as he played a key role in England’s first Test win over the Black Caps at Lord’s.
The 32-year-old took a triple-wicket maiden in the first over of his comeback in England’s 115-run victory in the series opener.
Robinson was named player of the match after taking seven wickets, including five in the first innings, but he reported soreness in his right knee after a training session on Friday.
That prompted England to call up Robinson’s Sussex teammate Henry Crocombe as cover on Saturday.
Robinson will remain with the squad and undergo rehab work on his knee with the aim of being available for the third Test at Trent Bridge, beginning on June 25.
Young steps in after Williamson retires
It was the latest setback for England in a turbulent week.
Test captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were left out of the squad for the Oval clash after they broke a midnight team curfew in the early hours of last Monday.
The pair, out celebrating England’s first Test win, were present when a confrontation involving Saracens rugby union player Totoa Auvaa occurred at a London nightclub.
The England and Wales Cricket Board and the independent Cricket Regulator are conducting separate probes into the incident.
After initial reports that Stokes could resign as captain or retire from international duty, it now appears that the all-rounder may eventually return to the team.
Stokes could play for his English county Durham instead in the coming week.
He returned to training with Durham on Saturday and the county are now awaiting clearance from England to pick him against Northamptonshire on Friday.
Durham head coach Ryan Campbell said: “With Stokes, we still don’t know for sure until we get told by England, but I’m thinking it’s 75 per cent he’ll be playing.
“That’s going to be an interesting selection decision.”
— AFP
Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
