Ollie Robinson, the England fast bowler, will miss the second and the last Test against New Zealand after being suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) pending an investigation into the racist and sexist tweets by the fast-bowler sent as an 18-year-old.
The old tweets resurfaced on June 2 (Wednesday), the day Robinson made his debut for England. Although he had a dream debut picking four wickets, the controversy subdued his brilliant performance. At the end of the day’s play, Ollie Robinson was seemingly disappointed by his deeds, apologised, and said he was going through a difficult period when he tweeted those.
“I want to make it clear that I’m not racist and I’m not sexist,” Robinson said at the time. “I deeply regret my actions, and I am ashamed of making such remarks and was thoughtless and irresponsible, and regardless of my state of mind at the time, my actions were inexcusable. Since that period, I have matured as a person and fully regret the tweets,” he added.
Ollie Robinson suspended from international cricket
ECB’s chief executive, Tom Harrison confirmed a disciplinary process and a full investigation would be initiated soon after Ollie Robinson had apologised for his past deeds. After the first Test, a statement from the ECB said that the fast bowler from Sussex will be suspended pending an outcome of the investigation.
“He will not be available for selection for the second Test against New Zealand starting at Edgbaston on Thursday (June 10). Robinson will leave the England camp immediately and return to his county,” he added.
However, the pacer will be allowed to play for Sussex during the investigation. It remains to be seen what punishment will be meted out by the ECB after the investigation. Robinson could be fined or suspended for some matches. He is not in England’s white-ball set-up so his next likely involvement with England would be in the Test series against India in August.
