England captain Ben Stokes has declared he won’t put a leash on quick bowler Ollie Robinson at Lord’s, letting the firebrand fast free to go after Australia.
The fallout of Robinson’s expletive-laden first Test abuse of Usman Khawaja and subsequent taunting of Australia has dominated the previous week, whereas additionally incomes the ire of previous gamers.
Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke have every chipped the 29-year-old, sad with feedback about previous Australian behaviour and criticising his bowling.
England, nevertheless, are pleased for Robinson to speak.
His aggressive nature befits the staff’s method to cricket, with England nearly assuming the previous Australian means of big-talking and fast-scoring on this yr’s Ashes.
“What’s Ashes cricket without a little bit of comments from past players?” Stokes stated.
“It’s not the only time where emotions of pro sport have come out in that form.
“Ollie Robinson is the sixth finest bowler on this planet, he’s averaging 21 with the ball. That’s all I have to say on that.”
Stokes also sees no need for Robinson’s approach to change, adamant it brings out the best in the right-armer.
Robinson took 3-55 and 2-43 in the first Test at Edgbaston, but a far greener Lord’s wicket is likely to offer more assistance to the quicks from Wednesday.
“Ollie Robinson would not let stuff like that have an effect on him,” Stokes stated.
“He has been a top quality performer each time he has walked on the sphere for England. His performances have confirmed that.
“I won’t be having a word with him to rein it in, because you don’t want to take something out of a player that gets the best out of them. He loves the competition.
“It is skilled sport. It’s the Ashes. There was a second the place we would have liked a determined breakthrough (of Khawaja), and he was the one to get that.”
Australia’s current players have so far stayed out of the back-and-forth, with captain Pat Cummins preaching from the outset of this series sledging would not be their style.
It also matches the way Australia have dealt with Bazball, desperate to stay calm in the face of England’s fearless batting and verbal hostilities.
Cummins said that may not have been possible as recently as five years ago, where players were more likely to get emotionally involved in battles or slanging matches.
“There are many elements that go into that,” Cummins stated.
“Everyone in our staff is nearly married with children or nicely into their profession and a bit extra snug in their very own pores and skin.
“Five years ago Australian cricket meant you were meant to play tough and get in the face of the opposition and throw your arms about and things like that.
“Whereas you have got seen our staff fairly mellow over the previous few years, which I believe displays our personalities.
“No doubt there are moments where everyone wants to get into a fight or a scrap or tit-for-tat. But at the moment everyone is pretty relaxed and comfortable just being us.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
