Ollie Robinson feared he ‘was never playing for England again’ before stunning comeback

• Bowler takes four wickets for 10 runs in six overs

• ‘I was just on cloud nine. My legs were numb’

Ollie Robinson admitted that just a few months ago he “thought I was never playing for England again” after he produced an extraordinary comeback performance on the first day of the Test summer, a return that started with a three-wicket maiden and saw him finish with figures of four wickets for 10 runs in six overs.

The 32-year-old was dropped in 2024 amid doubts over his fitness and commitment, and while England were collapsing to defeat in the Ashes – a failure that precipitated his return – he was also in Australia, rediscovering his appetite for the game playing grade cricket for Sydney University.