Ollie Robinson included in England’s squad for South Africa Test at Lord’s

Ollie Robinson will put a wretched run of luck with injury and illness behind him when he returns to the England Test squad to take on South Africa.

The Sussex seamer was today named as the surprise inclusion in a 14-man squad for the first two Tests in a three-match series that begins at Lord’s on August 17.

Robinson overcame a controversial start to his international career when racist and sexist tweets he sent as a teenager emerged on the day of his debut last year to become England’s leading wicket-taker in his first summer of Test cricket, claiming 28 victims.

The seamer has experienced a number of injuries as well as being called out publicly over his general fitness

But his career stalled when, despite impressing in an otherwise dismal defeat by Australia, he had his fitness publicly questioned by bowling coach Jon Lewis after suffering a back spasm during the final Ashes Test in Hobart.

Since then he has suffered numerous setbacks including pulling out of England’s warm-up game in Antigua ahead of their West Indies tour and then for a county select side to face New Zealand earlier this summer with further back problems. He has also had serious dental work and a bad bout of Covid.

But he returned for Sussex in the Championship last week and took nine wickets in the defeat by Notts and was included today in an enlarged squad that will look to build on the incredible Test start made by new captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

Bowling coach Jon Lewis (L) chose to call Robinson out over his fitness at the back end of the dire tour to Australia 

Robinson will also be named later this week in the Lions squad to face South Africa at Canterbury next week which will effectively act as a fitness Test before Lord’s.

‘It’s good to get Ollie Robinson back in the mix after his recent injury,’ said England performance director Mo Bobat. ‘He will continue his progress by playing for the Lions.’

Otherwise England have picked the players who have earned them those four wins in the first four Tests under Stokes and McCullum against New Zealand and India with the exception of Jamie Overton, who is missing through injury.

England’s squad for Lord’s and Old Trafford Tests: Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root.