Ollie Robinson's comeback: England's vital new pace spearhead

Ollie Robinson has made a sensational return to the England Test cricket team, marking his comeback with a stunning hat-trick in his first over against New Zealand at Lord's. This performance comes after a challenging two-year hiatus from international cricket, during which he battled fitness issues and faced scrutiny over past social media posts and his public image.

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It is 829 days since Robinson last played for England and 1,069 since he was last able to celebrate a wicket.

Robinson's statistics prior to his absence were already world-class, boasting 76 wickets from 20 Tests at an impressive average. However, England had previously deemed him "not worth the hassle" due to a combination of factors, including disciplinary issues and injuries. His exclusion meant he missed the entirety of the "Bazball" revolution that began in 2022.

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But England decided that Robinson was not worth the hassle.

The pace bowler spent part of his time away from the national team playing club cricket in Sydney, focusing on refining his game. His return to the England squad was necessitated by the team's ongoing rebuilding efforts after a difficult Ashes campaign and a need for a reliable leader in their bowling attack. Robinson's immediate impact suggests he could be the answer England has been searching for to stabilize their bowling lineup and provide a strong tone-setter.

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Robinson was exiled for 24 Tests. In that time, 13 other men bowled seam in Test cricket for England. Fourteen, if you count Harry Brook's wrong-footed part-time filth.