"I think there's been a breakdown in trust between him and the management" - Mark Butcher on Ollie Robinson's omission from England Test squad
Former England batter Mark Butcher felt that Pacer Ollie Robinson had been omitted from the Test squad because of a loss of trust between him and the team management. The 30-year-old did not feature in any of England's six Tests in the home summer and has also been left out of the squad for the upcoming tour of Pakistan.
This is despite Robinson playing a massive role in England's 3-0 series win in Pakistan in 2022, picking up nine wickets at an average of 21.22.
Butcher said on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast:
"I don't think there's any denying his [Robinson's] skill as a bowler, and I'm pretty sure that is not the reason why he's on the outside at the moment. I think there's been a breakdown in trust between him and the management. From what I've heard and what I think I know, the covenant of trust between those guys and the player has broken down almost irretrievably."
"The management would lay the blame at his door firmly, he might have a riposte to that but that is basically it. There are no denying the numbers or the skill he has. But the England players are given quite a lot of leeway in terms of the trust they are given by management, and I think he's broken that once too many for [Brendon] McCullum and [Ben] Stokes and therefore finds himself on the outer," he added.
Robinson played the lone Test of England's 1-4 defeat in India earlier this year but struggled with the ball, going wicketless.
Meanwhile, England's three-Test series in Pakistan starts in Multan on October 7.
"I'm really going to ramp up my fitness - my goal is to play Test cricket for England" - Ollie Robinson
Ollie Robinson said his goal is to return to the England Test squad, especially for the Ashes in Australia next year.
Despite the poor outing in India and some fitness issues, the right-arm pacer boasts a sensational Test record with 76 wickets at an average of 22.92, including three five-wicket hauls in 20 matches.
Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex recently, Robinson was quoted as saying by Wisden:
"I'm really going to ramp up my fitness - my goal is to play Test cricket for England. That's where my head's at at the minute - get as fit as possible, be ready for April when we return to Division One and put in good performances again. The Ashes down under is something I've always wanted to win. From being a little kid to now, every morning I wake up and that's a goal of mine. That's what I've got inside me, that drive. And hopefully I can get back there next year."
Robinson's latest bit of action was 12 County Championship Division Two outings for Sussex, where he picked up 39 wickets at an average of 25.53.