Robinson Aids Smith's Ashes Prep as Stokes Steps Up Bowling Return

[CRK]

Unlikely Ashes Preparation for Australia

England’s Ollie Robinson has emerged as an unlikely figure in Australia’s Ashes preparation. The English bowler, who has taken 21 wickets in seven Ashes Tests, was seen bowling to his former Sussex team-mate Steven Smith in the New South Wales nets on Thursday.

Robinson’s Recent Career

Robinson has not featured for England since February 2024, after falling out of favour due to his body letting him down in several matches. Despite taking 39 wickets at 24.74 for Sussex in the County Championship this year, he never appeared in serious contention for a Test recall and was also overlooked by England Lions.

Instead, Robinson has signed for Sydney University for a stint in grade cricket and was seen bowling at NSW batters at the SCG on Thursday ahead of their Sheffield Shield game against Victoria. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Robinson bowled for “about 45 minutes” to batters including Smith and Sam Konstas, and later spoke at length to NSW coach Greg Shipperd.

Stokes Returns to Bowling

While Robinson was bowling in Sydney, the first arrivals among England’s Ashes squad trained at Lilac Hill in Perth. They included Ben Stokes, England’s captain, who has not played competitively since sustaining an injury to a shoulder muscle against India in July but is confident of playing a full role in the first Test at Optus Stadium on November 21.

Stokes was welcomed to Australia by a front-page story in the West Australian which dubbed him “England’s Cocky Captain Complainer”, and the same newspaper reported that he had bowled in training on Thursday. Stokes stopped off in New Zealand to visit family before arriving in Australia, where he trained in the nets at Lincoln, Christchurch.

England’s Squad Assembles in Perth

Around half of England’s 16-man squad have already arrived in Perth, with the remainder due to follow this weekend. England’s only warm-up fixture – a three-day match against England Lions – starts on Thursday at Lilac Hill.

Key players to watch: Ollie Robinson, Steven Smith, Ben Stokes
Upcoming fixtures: England vs England Lions, November 21

Shaurya Morgan

Shaurya Morgan is a Cricket Editor specializing in match analysis and tactical insights. With a sharp eye for detail, he breaks down strategies, highlights key performances, and brings fans closer to the drama of the game. He leads the “Match Insights” and “Player Performance Breakdown” segments, offering clear explanations of how teams adapt and players excel under pressure. Shaurya’s work blends data-driven analysis with storytelling that captures the excitement of cricket at every level.