Ashes test: English quick Ollie Robinson unrepentant for sledging Usman Khawaja

England fast bowler Ollie Robinson has told Australia they have to toughen up, after an expletive-ridden outburst at century maker Usman Khawaja.

Ollie Robinson celebrates bowling Usman Khawaja during Day Three of the Ashes Test match. Picture: Getty Images.

England fast bowler Ollie Robinson has told Australia they have to toughen up, saying that if they can’t cope with a bit of swearing and sledging “what can they handle?” after he screamed at century maker Usman Khawaja to “f*** off, you f***ing p****!”

Robinson was unrepentant over his celebration at capturing Khawaja’s wicket when the Australian was on 141 after a carefully orchestrated unorthodox “umbrella’’ field placement.

Said Robinson after the second half of the day’s play was washed out: “I don’t care how perceived, it’s the Ashes, it’s professional sport, if you can’t handle that what can you handle?”

He added: “We all want theatre at the game don’t we, and I am here to provide it.’’

Robinson may face scrutiny by match referees for yelling the abuse, but he has insisted his language was nothing different to when Ricky Ponting would yell abuse at the opposition.

When asked if abusing rivals was theatre, Robinson replied: “No it’s not when it’s in the heat of the moment and the passion of the Ashes, that can happen. We’ve all seen Ricky Ponting and others do the same to us, so when the shoe is on the other foot here it’s not received well.’’

Robinson had glared at Usman Khawaja with the unsubtle sledge as he jumped into the arms of his teammates: “F... off, you f...ing prick!” after dismissing him with a fine yorker delivery before lunch, and which spearheaded the collapse of the Australian tail.

Khawaja, annoyed he had succumbed to the unconventional field placement of Ben Stokes, simply ignored the Englishman’s jibe: he had already delivered his response with his steadying of the Australian innings for a day and a half.

In contrast to his colleague, Joe Root walked across and patted Khawaja on the back in congratulations for a fine effort.

Nothing to see here, but 29 year old Robinson has questionable form. When Robinson was 18 he tweeted a series of racist and sexist messages that became public eight years later derailing the beginning of his Test career in 2021.

Around the same time his Yorkshire contract was severed for a number of unprofessional actions.

Two of the tweets read: “Real n*…. don’t let the microwave hit 0.00” and “my new Muslim friend is the bomb”. The England Cricket Board ended up banning Robinson for eight matches, five suspended for two years and fined more than $5000.

At the time Robinson said he had matured as a player and both fully regretted and was ashamed of making such remarks.

“I want to make it clear that I’m not racist and I’m not sexist,’’ Robinson had said.

While not the subject of racial abuse in this case – just crass sportsmanship instead – Khawaja, of Pakistani heritage and a Muslim, has spoken about “plenty of times” he missed selection because he was of colour. He has urged Australian cricket to have more diversity in their board, management and selection processes.

Australian player Alex Carey said there was no comment about the issue from the Australian dressing room.