Ollie Robinson was the wrecker-in-chief as Pakistan found themselves hurtling lower than the nadirs they had previously hit. Taking eight wickets for just 35 runs, Robinson soared with the Player of the Match award, and his accuracy with the ball is likely to keep haunting Pakistan for some time at least.
Robinson’s consistency pays dividends
Robinson returned to England’s red-ball side in June against New Zealand, after staying out for more than two years. But his comeback has worked incredibly well for himself as well as England. He has 23 wickets in three games, 15 of which were at Lord’s. Robinson tried to outsource some of the credit to how the surface and conditions played. It was a surface with variable bounce under grey skies and it was certainly bound to favour pacers, but as Robinson himself agrees, it was his consistency that paid dividends.
“I think the slope has something to offer even if it gets a bit flatter and the pitch,” Robinson said. “It was a great pitch and I just managed to keep the stumps in play and contribute to a win. I think it’s the consistency. I’ve had starts and a few injuries, but the body has come through well.”
England’s pace attack remained the bane of Pakistan’s existence, with their thunderbolts getting them to duck for cover. Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer took it on themselves to crank up the pace and make life difficult for the visitors. But Robinson stayed put with his medium pace and paired it with his ability to get the ball to move off the seam.
“I’m just trying to hone in on the skills and it helps to have three guys who bowl at 90 mph. I don’t think my role changes. It allows me to be a bit more defensive and to be patient. Jofra and the guys bowl rapid at the other end. It’s a nice pairing and long may it continue.”
Root wants England to keep evolving
Needless to say, England’s captain Joe Root was elated with how his bowling attack has fared in both Tests so far. The game had quite clearly been won on day two when England’s pacers drained Pakistan dry by getting them all out for just 110 runs.
With the series already won, England’s first since they defeated New Zealand in December 2024, Root wouldn’t want his players to show up with their complacent selves in the final game. He wants England to become “a pretty hard team to break” and for that, he counts on his players to keep evolving their game one game at a time.
“With the bowling, we have three guys who bowl at 90mph and Ollie Robinson,” Root said after winning the game by 194 runs. “The guys are growing, me as captain and them as players. I would like to see more of the same [in the final Test match] with bat and ball. If we can keep adapting and evolving, we’re going to be a pretty hard team to break.”
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