Ollie Robinson explains what sparked Usman Khawaja send-off, Aussie greats slam the ‘forgettable cricketer’

Ollie Robinson has opened up about his Usman Khawaja send-off and what the Australian batter said to him at Edgbaston as the Ashes war of words heats up, reports DANIEL CHERNY.

Ollie Robinson has admitted he “got caught up in the moment” during his send-off to Usman Khawaja on day three of the first Test, revealing that Khawaja later told him “to be careful what you say”.

The England seamer has come under fire after his seemingly expletive-laden and aggressive response to removing the Australian opener for 141 in the first innings at Edgbaston. The pair then exchanged words during a drinks break on day five, before Jimmy Anderson ushered his younger teammate away.

Ollie Robinson was fired up after dismissing man of the match Usman Khawaja in Australia’s first innings. Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Robinson has avoided formal sanction from the ICC over the send-off, but his initially unapologetic response to the incident – in particular his reference to similar behaviour from Australian teams of yesteryear – has made him the target of a barrage of Aussie backlash.

Ricky Ponting, who was namechecked by Robinson in his post-play press conference on Sunday, returned serve via an ICC podcast.

“As I said after Ollie Robinson said what he said, this England cricket team hasn’t played against Australia and they’ll find out pretty quickly what playing Ashes cricket and playing against a good Australian cricket team is all about,” Ponting said.

“And if Ollie Robinson hasn’t learned that already after last week, then he’s a slow learner.”

Ponting’s long-time teammate and fellow Test great Matthew Hayden was even more incendiary during an SEN interview.

“The other bloke, he’s a forgettable cricketer,” Hayden said.

“The fast bowler that is bowling 124kp nude nuts and he’s got a mouth from the south. Someone like him, you can just go, ‘Brother, I’m coming at ya’. Davey Warner can do that, right. He can just say, ‘You’re bowling 120kmh’.”

🗣️ "Words have consequences"

The Ashes panel discuss Ollie Robinson saying he does not care about his celebration after bowling Usman Khawaja... pic.twitter.com/3zYdAM2ix3

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 19, 2023

Addressing the chapter in his debut column for Wisden’s website, Robinson accepted he had become swept up with things.

“It was certainly an interesting week for me, taking Broady’s (Stuart Broad’s) mantle as Australia’s public enemy number one!” wrote Robinson.

“I didn’t realise the Ussie send-off was such a big thing until I got off the pitch to find my phone blowing up with mates texting me and it all going off. I just got caught up in the moment. I was desperate for a wicket; I hadn’t bowled that well in the first innings, I’d had that slip in my second over and lost a bit of confidence.

“Then I was trying to feel my way back in a little bit, having not played much for a while. And obviously Ussie was the big wicket, he was playing beautifully. It was nothing against Ussie, it was just one of those things, I got caught up in the moment and let myself go.”

All eyes will be on Ollie Robinson when he next confronts Australia in a Test. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Robinson then elaborated on his day five interaction with Khawaja, who faced more than 500 balls across Australia’s two-wicket win.

“We’ve all seen it with Jimmy (Anderson), Broady, (Glenn) McGrath, Brett Lee. All the bowlers do it when they’re fired up and trying to get a wicket for their team. I spoke to Ussie after as well and we were all good. He was just like, “Mate, just be careful what you say.” It was nothing against him and we had a good chat. He’s a nice guy and I’ve always gotten on well with him, having played against him a few times.”

Even if unpopular, Robinson has been highly effective during his Test career thus far, taking 71 wickets at 21.15.

Robinson meanwhile wrote of his surprise at Australia’s unpreparedness to match the punchy cricket being played by the hosts, adding that England coach Brendon McCullum had told his team that it felt like the hosts had won.

“We were surprised by how defensive Australia were and how unwilling they were to go toe-to-toe with us,” Robinson wrote.

“Obviously it’s worked for them this Test match. But we feel that with the way they’re playing at the moment, a pitch with a bit more movement would benefit us hugely. Baz (McCullum) said it after the game, “It feels like we’ve won, lads.” We’ve entertained the world, and we’ve put the Aussies on the back foot. For him to say that after a loss is quite significant for us.”

Originally published as Ollie Robinson explains what sparked Usman Khawaja send-off, Aussie greats slam the ‘forgettable cricketer’