Ollie Robinson is to undergo a knee scan and is a doubt for England’s second Test against New Zealand.
Robinson returned to England’s Test set-up for the first time in over two years when he took seven wickets in the first Test at Lord’s, but is suffering from “knee soreness” after a training session on Friday.
England have called up uncapped seamer Henry Crocombe as cover and the second Test starts at the Kia Oval on Wednesday. live on Sky Sports.
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After the win in the first Test at Lord’s, England captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum heaped praise on the returning Robinson after he took seven wickets after two years away from the England set-up
The seamer’s absence potentially represents another blow to an England bowling attack already without captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, who were both dropped for the second Test after breaching the England team’s new midnight curfew and being at a nightclub when an altercation took place with a Saracens rugby player.
Robinson took 7-77 at Lord’s, meaning England – in addition to Atkinson’s 7-39 – could be without the two seamers who took 14 of their 20 wickets.
England’s pace attack is likely to be spearheaded by the returning Jofra Archer – himself a doubt after missing the first Test due to IPL duties – with Josh Tongue, Matt Fisher and Sonny Baker the other fast bowlers at their disposal.
Who is Henry Crocombe?
Henry Crocombe has taken 21 wickets in the County Championship Division One
Crocombe, 24, has had an impressive season for Sussex in the County Championship, taking 21 wickets with a season-best 9-69 in two innings against Leicestershire.
The fast bowler has also been praised by head coach Brendon McCullum in response to questions about the availability of Archer for the three-Test series.
“You have a wealth of players developing through the county system and through the Lions who are on our radar,” McCullum told a news conference after England’s win at Lord’s.
Jofra Archer missed the first Test against the Black Caps
“There is some exciting talent: [Henry] Crocombe, Nav Sharma, Eddie Jack. These guys are all in the system and identified.
“Now we just have to make sure we upskill them so that if the opportunity arises in the coming years they are ready to step in and perform. It’s a good place to be when you have a battery of fast bowlers you can call on.”
Crocombe is an England Lions regular and took 1-23 last week in the third ODI against South Africa A.
England vs New Zealand – Results and Schedule
All UK & Ireland times, all matches live on Sky Sports
- First Test (Lord’s) – England won by 115 runs
- Second test (Kia Oval) – June 17-21 (11am)
- Third Test (Trent Bridge) – June 25-29 (11am)
Watch the second test of the England vs New Zealand series live on Sky Sports from June 17. Don’t have Sky?