Aussie cricket icon in savage takedown of Ashes villain Ollie Robinson
Mel Jones has delivered a stinging swipe on England's big-talking bowler, Ollie Robinson.
Ollie Robinson became Australia's 'public enemy No.1' after his trash-talking antics during the first Ashes Test, but he's been given a taste of his own medicine by Aussie cricket icon Mel Jones on day one at Lord's. Robinson and his men failed to cash in after winning the toss and electing to bowl first in the second Test, under gloomy skies in London.
Steve Smith finished day one unbeaten on 85, while Travis Head added a quick-fire 77 off 73 balls to put the Aussies in control at 5-339 at stumps. David Warner also posted his first half-century in nine innings with a solid 66, leaving England left to rue a couple of dropped catches and their lacklustre bowling attack after sending the visitors in to bat.
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England great Kevin Pietersen delivered a scathing assessment of the home side after labelling the bowling display "shambolic" from Ben Stokes' men. “You have overhead conditions, you have a wicket that suits your bowlers, you have bowlers running in at 78, 79 mile an hour. It’s one thing walking here, swanning around saying, ‘Hey, this is a wonderful team to play in, we’re creating the best environment', but this isn’t Ashes cricket," he said.
“I’ve played Ashes cricket, I’ve played nearly 30 Test matches against Australia. The Australians were outside to bat before the English bowlers. The English bowlers this morning should have been on those stairs saying we want to bowl at Australia. We’re desperate to bowl at Australia. These two Australian batters are out there waiting for England. They’re the ones that should be in the room saying, ‘No, no, we don’t want to bat,’ and it’s all too easy and it’s all too nice.”
Mel Jones in hilarious swipe at Ollie Robinson
While Petersen's comments were cutting, it was former Australia women's star and commentator Jones who delivered a savage shut down on first Test 'villain' Robinson. The moment came late in the day when England's only spinning option Joe Root bowled a bouncer that took everyone by surprise, and prompted a funny exchange between Jones and England great Michael Atherton in commentary.
“There you go. With the stare to follow as well,” Jones said about Root's bouncer. Atherton fired back: “(Root is a) spin bowler with a fast bowler’s temperament."
Jones needed no further invitation to stick the boot into England quick Robinson after the remark, by echoing Pietersen's criticism about England's distinct lack of pace. “To those wondering (that was) just a couple of miles short of what Ollie Robinson has been bowling today (at) 75 miles an hour,” Jones said about Root's off-spin delivery.
Atherton seemingly had no answer to Jones' telling swipe. “(You’re) the latest to have a dig at Ollie Robinson,” he said. “Every Australian or former Australian player is at the moment.”
As Mel Jones just said on commentary, just shy of the pace Ollie Robinson has been bowling all match. https://t.co/ZtTH6DkeT0
— Mel Gomes (@melstarsg) June 28, 2023
England slammed after lacklustre day one at Lord's
Robinson famously gave first Test centurion a foul-mouthed send-off at Edgbaston, before declaring Australia had "three No.11s" in their side and claiming England won the first Test in many ways because of their progressive and entertaining approach. Following a chastening day one at Lord's, England's famed 'Bazball' style was under fire from several England greats.
Former captain Michael Vaughan was another to agree with Pietersen's brutal swipe. "England just not sharp enough," he said on BBC.
"England have got this approach to Test cricket that is quite casual. They talk the talk, the message after Edgbaston was very positive, young players coming out with bold statements.
"But the casual approach came out today in the middle. You get David Warner out and then Steve Smith walks out, and within 15 balls, he's got 25 because England bowled utter dross."
with agencies
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