'Duel standards' to 'Sensible conclusion': Twitter divided over ECB suspending Ollie Robinson for 8 matches

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Cricket Disciplinary Commission (CDC) had recently announced charges brought against Ollie Robinson for his offensive tweets in the past. Following the inquiry, the panel has now decided to suspend him for eight matches, five of which will be suspended over the next two years. The 27-year-old was also fined a hefty sum of £3,200.

The three matches which were subjected to immediate suspension are already completed as the England team played the second Test against New Zealand without him last month. The bowler also missed two T20 Blast games for Sussex, which completed his immediate suspension quota.

So Ollie Robinson could immediately return to cricket and feature for England in the upcoming five-match Test series against India.

Twitter had some mixed reactions to the sanctions provided by the ECB. While some rejoiced that Ollie Robinson didn't have to face a significant ban from international cricket, some were unhappy with the ECB for its double standards.

Here are the best reactions:

Dear couples, if you're planning to have kids and want them to play representative cricket ensure they have no social media accounts. A soiled diaper at the age of 2 might haunt them when they are 22.
— Sridhar Joshi (@brahmmajoshi) July 3, 2021

What will they investigate.!!! For god sake now a days people are abusive all over social media for anything and everything...

For something he tweeted 11 years back!!!
Suspension , I can understand.. What the hell will u investigate and do.....

So now u will ban him for life?
— Adarsh (@Be_Aashu) July 3, 2021

Best ever Suspension. Will not miss any match . But it's ok. He doesn't deserve harsh punishment. U can't b so harsh on him for 8/10 years ago tweet. Looking forward to see how he plays after this.
— Nasreen🧕🇧🇩 (@NA__SR__EEN3) July 3, 2021

How is it a suspension if he's already carried it out ?
— Irfan N (@Irfan__N) July 3, 2021

To be fair, this seems pragmatic and reasonable. Recognises the "offense", free to carry on now but suspended suspension gives him time to prove he has learnt lesson which given how old the tweets are seems the case
— Chris Marshall (@MarshallCAJ3107) July 3, 2021

Pathetic. Duel standards.
— noddy (@noddysab) July 3, 2021

Sensible conclusion. Sad it took so long to sort.
— Matt Owen (@mowen23) July 3, 2021

Should never of been suspended in first place. He was a teenage lad when he made these comments. He has turned his life around and is now a decent lad
— Mat Leslie (@MatLeslie1) July 3, 2021

don't be a hypocrite. ban james anderson, eoin morgan, and jos butler.
— low day (@adalkap) July 3, 2021

Just admit it you have made fools of your self
— Laurence winston (@Laurencewinston) July 3, 2021

Ollie Robinson's latest statement

Cricket Discipline Commission announces decision on Ollie Robinson
— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) July 3, 2021

The fast bowler is set to take part in training programs for the fair use of social media over the next two years as directed by the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).

In a statement, Ollie Robinson said:

"I am deeply sorry for the hurt I caused to anyone who read those tweets and in particular to those people to whom the messages caused offence. This has been the most difficult time in my professional career for both my family and myself. Whilst I want to move on, I do want to use my experience to help others in the future through working with the PCA."

Ollie Robinson impressed in his debut Test by picking up seven wickets against New Zealand and contributing a vital 42 runs with the bat in the first innings. It remains to be seen whether the England team management will pick him for the upcoming five-match Test series against India.