Durham Wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson Called Up to England Squad

Durham’s uncapped wicketkeeper, Ollie Robinson, has received a call-up to the England squad for their New Zealand tour, following an injury sustained by Jordan Cox. Robinson holds a first-class batting average of 37.26. The 25-year-old Robinson is scheduled to arrive on Saturday and may make his debut in the second Test, set to take place in Wellington next week. Cox, who was slated to debut in the first Test in Christchurch on Thursday, sustained a broken thumb while batting in the nets during England’s warm-up fixture in Queenstown over the weekend. Consequently, Ollie Pope is serving as wicketkeeper for the first Test, while 21-year-old Jacob Bethell is making his debut, batting at number three. Cox, from Essex, had been selected to fill in for the primary wicketkeeper, Jamie Smith, who is absent from the tour due to paternity leave. However, England chose not to include another specialist wicketkeeper in their squad, resulting in Pope undertaking wicketkeeping duties in a Test match for the fourth occasion and Bethell making his initial appearance. Robinson, similar to Cox, commenced his career at Kent before relocating north for the 2023 season to secure more opportunities as a wicketkeeper. Since then, he has maintained a first-class average of 53 for Durham, where he plays alongside England captain Ben Stokes. He has previously toured Australia, India, and Sri Lanka as part of the England Lions team. Robinson’s travel was delayed due to a passport renewal. His arrival in Christchurch on the third day of the first Test will provide him with nearly a week to acclimatise before the second Test commences on Friday.