Once Jimmy Anderson decides to hang his boots, Ollie Robinson will be the leader of the English pace attack. Ollie Robinson might have only played 6 test matches but he has already grown in stature quite a lot. Part of the reason is his 32 wickets at 19.38 and two 5-wicket hauls in his short career but so is his temperament. Decent pace, deadly deception It is true that Robinson does not have a lot of pace but is able to move the ball both ways effortlessly, bowling in the mid 130s, which has proved more than enough in his career till now. In the absence of Stuart Broad and James Anderson in the first match of Ashes 2021-22, Robinson showed why he is rated so highly. Robinson bowled 23 overs and was clearly England's most threatening bowler. He ended up taking three wickets in the first essay while going at an economy rate of 2.50, which was the least among all the bowlers that England used. An economy of under 3 RPO is sensational when the likes of Ben Stokes and Jack Leach went at 5.40 and 7.80 respectively. Making the most of the hampered lead-up England did not have a lot of time to prepare, with the torrential rains in Queensland messing up their practice before the beginning of the Ashes. This is how Ollie Robinson described his pre-series routine. "It's obviously not ideal preparation but, as a group, we feel we've made do with what we've been given," Robinson said. "We feel in a good place, and we feel ahead of the Aussies which is the main thing. They were at the World Cup and in quarantine so they are probably a few weeks behind us. We feel like we have some good work in us since being here and hopefully that will give us the edge in the first Test." "I've learnt about my body and that I can get bowling ready in different ways. I've done a lot more running here than bowling outdoors just because of the weather, and I feel like I've learnt a bit more about how to get ready, really. I've taken note from Jimmy and Broady, they have done a lot of Test series and situations like this. I've done it differently this time but I feel ready to take it on. You have to be fitter out here in Australia, stronger and use the crease a bit more to create the angles and the movement. Out here the ball doesn't move as much so I think I can bring that experience and it can help me."
