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.”
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Starc takes his wickets in Australia on wickets that are personally built for him against touring teams, like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, that have no idea how to bat in Australia. Robinson took his wickets in Australia against Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith and Head batting on their home decks. Robinson’s average in Australia would be even better if he got to bowl at Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and South Africa over here. Starc’s record in Australia would obviously be worse if he only bowled at Australia’s test side. The “Yeah but from how many tests argument” is not really relevant. Robinson’s wickets in Australia are of a much higher quality than the vast majorty of Starc’s.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Lovely to beat the Bath Dodgers at home. Lets hope for four more of the same.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
No internation cricket being played at the WACA ever again. Official reckon drop in pitches and souless cavern stadiums the future.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Did any Aussies actually point the finger? Officials have confirmed no comments whatsoever from the Aussie dressing room.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
England just lost their right to complain about opposition behavior for the remainder of test cricket.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
I’m just as pissed off if Smith gave a send-off to Brook as reported, though Robinson’s goes too far over a red line. Doesn’t matter who’s doing it. Warne was a particular pain in the neck at times. I played cricket a bit earlier than those guys, at a decent level, and that kind of carry-on wouldn’t go down well and could have consequences. A send-off is the the worst you can do.
AK74
Roar Rookie
You are taking it a bit too seriously, I just find this faux outrage by Aussies (fans and some journalists, not the players) about their player getting a naughty send off quite funny considering the team's history. It all makes for a great cricket spectacle, this series has been everything I hoped for so far.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Holier than thou? You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.
AK74
Roar Rookie
Massive history revisioning going on from holier than thou Aussies. Anyway, now onto the most important thing - the cricket!
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Nonsense. The whole public and media weren’t behind sledging.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Exactly, it’s one thing to say something aggro, it’s quite another to give a batter a send-off of any kind. It’s the worst moment for a batter and a send-off invites a pretty angry reaction on or off the field. Don’t say to me something you wouldn’t say to my face off the field. Playing a decent standard of cricket a while ago now, that kind of thing might only be tolerated if the batter was acting like an idiot while batting.
Wrecked 'em
Roar Rookie
Sorry but I’ve got to call you out here. The way Robinson carried on is NOT what Test cricket is about. And moreso his pathetic attempt to justify it in the presser. If he carried on like a pork chop and been contrite later, no one would bat an eyelid. But this clown has form and should be exposed for the dipstick he is and called out for unacceptable behaviour. Further, I don’t reckon most Aussies would give a toss about what Robinson did if it was an even playing field. What we get the sh1ts about is sanctimonious poms preaching about what’s appropriate and what’s not, then next breath defending this idiot or playing it down. We hate hypocrisy and double standards.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
As many others have pointed out, his career average is 21.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
That’s ok, your poor memory is not your fault
Tempo
Roar Rookie
I disagree that Aussies can't criticise poor behaviour. Warne was widely criticised for his send off of Hudson. And whilst sections of media and society, probably a majority for long periods, lauded the ugly behaviour of past Australian teams (and some still hanker for it), many Australians including a lot of the media were critical of it. Poor behaviour should be called out by anyone, whether it's the team that represents the country they live in or not. Shouldn't matter. It'd be hypocritical for those who engaged in the behaviour themselves to be sanctimonious about it (unless they acknowledge and repent of their past similar behaviour), but the majority of Australians not in that category should be free to call out bad behaviour from anyone. I'm just glad this current Australian team seems to have pretty much left those unpleasant antics behind them - I hope permanently.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm not making ANY excuses, just agreeing with the comment from AK74, where they said "there are numerous examples of Aussies doing this over the years. It’s all part of the competitive nature of test cricket". In this instance though, this comment was not designed to mentally disintegrate, but to abuse and that was wrong. Again, it's tough for Aussies to point fingers when we're renowned for some of the sendoffs Warne, Johnson and others have given over the years.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Sure was. There are lots more examples since. Messers McGrath, S Waugh, Clarke, Johnston, etc, the list goes on
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Not in Australia they don’t, both are deadset pie chuckers on hard, flat Aussie decks with the Kookaburra. Even last summer when our decks were unusually generous they still bowled pies.
AK74
Roar Rookie
Up until sandpapergate Australian media and fans in their vast majority were fully behind this "We play our cricket tough, but fair and we don't cross the line" mantra. Let's not revise history. In any case, let Robinson have it when he is out there batting. Australian team certainly doesn't seem to have a problem with the sand off. This is what test cricket is all about.
Wrecked 'em
Roar Rookie
selective memory much ?