Robinson Eyes England Test Return After McCullum Call

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-05-05

Ollie Robinson is pushing hard for an England Test return this summer. He revealed that head coach Brendon McCullum personally contacted him to confirm his place in international cricket was not yet gone. The Sussex captain, 32, last played a Test in February 2024 against India. Despite finishing with 76 wickets at 22.92 across 20 caps — a strong return by any measure — fitness problems and a strained relationship with team management effectively ended that chapter of his international career. Robinson lost his central contract in October 2024, and he had assumed the door was shut. It was not. ### McCullum and Key Both Reach Out to Robinson At the start of the current county season, Robinson received a text from McCullum — known in England's dressing room as "Baz" — making clear that a recall was still possible. "I had a text from Baz at the start of the season, just to say that the door was still open, which was nice," Robinson said. Managing director Rob Key also called Robinson directly with a simple message: take wickets and force your way back in. Key later attended Sussex's home match against Warwickshire at Hove and followed up with a message praising Robinson's rhythm and bowling. For Robinson, who had genuinely believed his England days were finished, the contact from two of the most influential figures in English cricket changed his mindset entirely. "For me, at the start of the season when I took the captaincy on, I didn't realise the door was still open. I thought it was closed. It's definitely spurred me on this season," he said. ### Robinson in Better Shape On and Off the Field Robinson has also pointed to a significant improvement in both his physical condition and personal circumstances. Back spasms repeatedly undermined him during his England career, most notably in the 2021-22 Ashes and again in India in 2024, where he managed just 13 overs in the decisive fourth Test at Ranchi after injuring himself while batting. This season for Sussex he has bowled 104 overs, taken 11 wickets, and scored an unbeaten century against Surrey — his second first-class hundred — helping rescue his side from 92 for 7. "I probably feel more ready now than I did when I first got into the England team," Robinson said. "And I've probably grown up a bit since then as well. Hopefully that all helps if I get the call." ### England's Bowling Stocks Thin Ahead of New Zealand Series Robinson's potential comeback comes at a time when England's seam bowling options are stretched. Stuart Broad and James Anderson have both retired from Test cricket. Mark Wood is still recovering from a knee injury that wrecked his Ashes winter. Brydon Carse is also sidelined, and Jofra Archer has been playing in the Indian Premier League. Matthew Potts struggled during the Ashes, leaving Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue as the only two seamers considered certain picks for the upcoming New Zealand Test series. England are expected to name that squad around the week of May 18, with the opening Test at Lord's on June 4. That vacancy suits Robinson. What makes him attractive to England beyond raw numbers is his height, his tenacity, and his willingness to get in the face of batters — a quality Key reportedly values highly and one that has been missing since Anderson and Broad walked away. Essex's Sam Cook, who earned a solitary Test cap against Zimbabwe last summer and has taken 15 wickets at 21.73 this season, is the other primary candidate for that attack-leading role. ### What This Means for England's Future It's a fascinating twist for a player who seemed done with international cricket. Robinson's numbers speak for themselves, but his renewed fitness and maturity could be the difference this time around. The England setup clearly values his unique attributes, and with the seam attack looking thin, he might just get his chance sooner rather than later.