England suspend Robinson pending racism probe

England's Ollie Robinson has apologised for a series of racist and sexist tweets sent as a teenager

Ollie Robinson will miss next week's second Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston after being suspended from all international cricket pending an investigation into racist and sexist Twitter messages, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Sunday.

Sussex quick Robinson made an impressive on-field England debut in the drawn first Test at Lord's concluded Sunday.

"England and Sussex bowler Ollie Robinson has been suspended from all international cricket pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation following historic tweets he posted in 2012 and 2013," said an ECB statement.

"Robinson will leave the England camp immediately and return to his county," it added.

But he found himself making an unreserved apology after stumps on Wednesday, his first day in Test cricket, for tweets that included comments suggesting Muslim people were linked to terrorism, and derogatory remarks about women and people of Asian heritage.

Robinson, in a statement issued after play on Wednesday, said he was "embarrassed" and "ashamed" by the posts.

England captain Joe Root speaking after stumps on Sunday but before Robinson's suspension had been announced, said of the tweets: "I couldn't believe them, personally."

- 'Exceptional debut' -

Root, however, insisted: "In regards to the stuff that's happened off the field, it's not acceptable within our game. We all know that."

"And if we continue to keep trying to better the game right now, then in years to come this shouldn't be an issue.

Robinson has a separate employment contract with Sussex so he is free to play, if selected, for the south coast county during his international suspension.

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