- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Fiery England quick Ollie Robinson says he does not care how Australia take his expletive-laden send-off of Usman Khawaja, justifying it as part of the Ashes theatre.
Robinson raised eyebrows on Sunday when he appeared to yell, “f*** off, you f***ing prick” when he bowled Khawaja for 141 on third morning of the Ashes series opener.
England’s Ollie Robinson celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia’s Usman Khawaja. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)
Fresh off bouncing Australia’s tail in the rain-affected day, Robinson then landed several shots on the tourists in a dramatic seven-minute post-play press conference.
The quick accused his rivals of being un-Australian with their defensive approach, and claimed Australia had three No.11s with Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.
But it is the Khawaja send-off which will draw the most attention, after the 29-year-old bowled the left-hander to end his near-on eight-hour stay at the wicket.
“It’s my first home Ashes. To get the big wicket at the time was special for me,” he said.
“We all want that theatre of the game, so I am here to provide it.”
Asked if it may have put a target on his head in Australia’s camp, Robinson was unfazed.
“I don’t really care how it is perceived to be honest, it’s the Ashes, it’s professional sport,” he said.
“If you can’t handle that, what can you handle?”
The paceman would not comment when pressed on whether he thought he would be sanctioned by match officials.
“When you’re in the heat of the moment and you have the passion of the Ashes, that can happen,” Robinson said.
“We’ve all seen Ricky Ponting and other Aussies do the same to us, and just because the shoe is on the other foot, it’s not received well.”
Robinson is no stranger to controversy.
He attracted attention on the day of his Test debut when historic racial and sexist slurs posted on social media by him surfaced, prompting an apology and suspension.
Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey said he did not see the Khawaja incident on Sunday, after England went to stumps 2-28 and leading by 35 in their second innings.
“Usman hasn’t said anything. It’s the Ashes, sometimes it’s going to be hostile,” he said.
“I actually didn’t see anything over the top there.”
But Robinson is unlikely to have endeared himself to Australia, after also stating in the lead up England were going to give the visitors a “hiding’ in the series.
Robinson said he believed England could win the Test if they had 90 overs to bowl Australia out, provided the tourists were interested in trying to chase down a target to win the game.
“If they were playing for the draw and defensively like they have done so far in this game, then it might be slightly different,” he said.
“We’ve made them play the way they have. The aggressive nature of the way we have gone about it, our batting and bowling, means they had to go more defensive.
“It’s not something you normally see from an Australian side, but the way we are playing under Ben (Stokes) and Baz (coach Brendon McCullum) is causing that to happen.”
© AAP
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.