Mitchell Swepson has frankly admitted doubts crept into his mind during his 514-ball wait for a third Test wicket.Swepson justified his selection as Australia’s second spinner in the team’s series-opening win over Sri Lanka, taking five wickets for the match in Galle. But it wasn’t before a harsh introduction to Test cricket.He took 2 for 266 across his maiden two Tests on flat Pakistan wickets, including a barren 81.4 overs without a wicket to end the series.”I’m not going to lie, it plays on your mind,” Swepson said.  “It definitely creeps in. ‘Why aren’t I taking wickets? What am I doing wrong here?’Related

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“At the same time in Pakistan I know it was about trying to stay effective. A big focus of ours was trying to control the tempo of the game. That was what I had to bring my mind back to if the results weren’t at my end.”Swepson is expected to hold his spot as Nathan Lyon’s spin partner for the final Test in Galle starting Friday, holding out a fit-again Jon Holland. His success in Sri Lanka has been a long time in the making.He went on an academy tour to India in 2015, and was also a member of Australia’s Test squad for the 2017 Test series in that country.He has since worked on developing his bowling for sub-continent conditions, well aware that is where his chance would come. Swepson has tended to bowl with a “squarer” seam in Sri Lanka than he does Australia, forgoing some drift but picking up more natural variation in his spin.”You’ve got to adapt to the surface,” Swepson said. “Over here I’ve found that different paces react differently off the wickets. It’s a matter of flight, it’s a matter what shape you put on the ball, the angle of the seam.”I found it quite effective in my first spell bowling with a squarer seam, not as over the top of the ball. Some were skidding past the left-hander’s edge, some were ripping into his gloves.”Swepson is happy to push the cause for Australia playing two spinners back home this summer, having not picked a wristspinner at home since Brad Hogg in 2007-08. But the 28-year-old is more realistically accepting his next chance will come in India in February.”I’ve obviously got one eye on India. That’s definitely a goal of mine. And a goal of this group is to get a series win over there,” he said.”I love bowling with Gaz [Lyon]…it’s great having an offspinner and a legspinner working in tandem [spinning it different ways]. Again, biased opinion of mine. But I think it’s something we don’t see enough of in cricket.”

Tottenham Hotspur are now set to allow one of their wantaway players to depart in the January transfer window, according to a report.

Latest Tottenham transfer news

Tottenham are on the lookout for new additions to their squad this January, with it recently emerging they have touched base with the agents of Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, who retains a good relationship with sporting director Johan Lange.

Grealish is not the only attacking option in Ange Postecoglou’s sights this winter, with the Lilywhites being named as potential suitors for Real Madrid’s Arda Guler, while FC Midtjylland’s Dario Osorio is also on the radar.

Tottenham and Lange make approach to agents of £100m British star

Spurs have made their interest clear…

2 ByDominic Lund Nov 9, 2024

As ever, Spurs are also likely to receive interest in some of their star players this winter, with The Boot Room recently revealing that Son Heung-min is emerging as a player of interest in the Saudi Pro League, given that he is not in line for a new contract in north London.

Considering the impact Son has made at N17 over the years, his potential departure may be a worry for the Tottenham faithful. However, one player they may be less concerned about is Sergio Reguilon.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League games

Date

Ipswich Town (home)

November 10

Manchester City (away)

November 23

Fulham (home)

December 1

AFC Bournemouth (away)

December 5

Chelsea (home)

December 8

It was recently reported that Reguilon could completely terminate his contract this January in order to force a move, as he is not deemed to be a part of Postecoglou’s plans going forward.

According to the latest update from CaughtOffside, the 27-year-old wants to leave Tottenham this winter, and the club, and by extension chairman Daniel Levy, are all too happy to grant his wish, given that Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies are now ahead of him in the pecking order at left-back.

The Spaniard could be set for a return to his home country, with Sevilla and Getafe keen to take him to La Liga, and both clubs are now ready to start negotiations with Spurs and his representatives.

Reguilon set to leave Spurs

News of the left-back’s departure is unlikely to be a concern to a great number of Spurs fans, given that he is yet to make an appearance for the club in any competition this season.

The former Sevilla man has also spent time on loan at Manchester United and Brentford over the past two seasons, having fallen out of favour at N17, in light of Udogie’s emergence as a first-team regular under Postecoglou.

During his time at Brentford, the £53k per-week defender was lauded as “superb” by journalist Sam Tabuteau, indicating that he could still make an impact for a club lower down the Premier League table, but it is clear he is surplus to requirements in north London.

With any luck, Postecoglou will be able to get Reguilon off the books in the upcoming transfer window, freeing up vital funds which can be used to reinforce other areas of the squad.

The India fast bowler will retire from international cricket after the third ODI against England

Shashank Kishore20-Aug-2022India’s veteran fast bowler Jhulan Goswami is all set to retire from international cricket at Lord’s, after the third and final ODI of the tour of England on September 24. She will leave the game as the highest wicket-taker in women’s internationals, with 352 wickets across formats.Goswami, 39, was named in India’s squad for the three ODIs in England on Friday, after missing the preceding 50-over series in Sri Lanka in July. It is understood that the team management had spoken to Goswami about looking to the future and building a pool of young fast bowlers who can feature across formats.Goswami last played for India during the ODI World Cup in New Zealand in March this year. The BCCI was keen on giving her a “proper farewell,” according to a board official, because “Jhulan couldn’t say goodbye on the field” after picking up a side strain ahead of India’s final group game against South Africa. She hasn’t played T20Is since 2018, and played her last Test match in October 2021.Related

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Goswami was in line to tour Sri Lanka in July but missed out because of fitness issues. She only regained full fitness in mid-July and was selected for the England tour following clearance from the National Cricket Academy medical staff.ESPNcricinfo understands Goswami is keeping her options open for the inaugural women’s IPL that is scheduled for March 2023. She is also in discussions with a men’s IPL team for a mentoring role, and she will be a player and mentor for the Bengal women’s team for the upcoming domestic season.Goswami began her international career as a 19-year old in March 2002, and over the course of two decades she played 12 Tests, 68 T20 internationals and 201 ODIs. She holds the record for the most wickets in ODIs – 252 – and has featured in six 50-over World Cups.India play three T20Is in England on September 10, 13 and 15, followed by three ODIs – part of the ICC Women’s Championship – on September 18, 21 and 24.

A “special” player is likely to leave his club in 2025, despite only just signing a new contract, and it is believed he could join Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs' transfer plans for next year as Lange works behind-the-scenes

It has been a testing start to the season for manager Ange Postecoglou, with Spurs blowing hot and cold over their opening fixtures of the campaign.

Tottenham have "made a bid" to sign attacking gem who's "flying" right now

He’s a very wanted man.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 16, 2024

Recently, Postecoglou’s side went on an impressive five-game winning streak in all competitions, with Wales winger Brennan Johnson front and centre of it, as he enjoys quite a purple patch right now.

However, that run unceremoniously ended with a dramatic 3-2 defeat away to Brighton. Spurs were two goals up at half-time, but they ultimately capitulated at the Amex, with Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck cementing their fate.

Tottenham vs West Ham

October 19

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham

October 27

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

November 3

Tottenham vs Ipswich Town

November 10

Man City vs Tottenham

November 23

“You never know if it [the international break] is good or bad. Maybe for the players it was good, but I don’t like sitting on a loss,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Brighton.

“There can be a tendency to over-analyse things. It wasn’t a good one. The first half was unbelievable, but I didn’t like the second half and what we looked like. It wasn’t the loss, it was the manner I wasn’t comfortable with. I’ve been sitting on it for 10 days, I’m ready to explode once they get back in the building and that will be my therapy.”

As Postecoglou unleashes on his current squad, just before they take on West Ham in a fierce London derby clash this weekend, technical director Johan Lange and the Lilywhites recruitment team are working to bolster the Australian’s options in January.

Indeed, it is believed Tottenham are targeting Espanyol winger Javi Puado, with his deal set to expire next summer, so the La Liga side could be forced to cash-in on the cheap this winter. Spurs are chasing Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Georgiy Sudakov as well, as Lange and co weigh up alternative attacking midfield options to James Maddison.

Patrick Dorgu could join Tottenham despite new contract

Another rumoured target for Postecoglou’s side is Lecce youngster Patrick Dorgu.

The Dane has been impressing in Serie A, with Dorgu attracting interest from Spurs among other elite Premier League sides. The teenage full-back recently penned a new deal with Lecce, committing his future to the club until 2029 and warding off potential suitors.

However, this apparently may not be the case, as Fiorentina News write that Dorgu is still likely to leave Lecce in 2025, with Spurs at the front of the queue for his services alongside London rivals Chelsea.

The fresh terms will hand Lecce an opportunity to garner more funds from Dorgu’s departure, according to Fiorentina News, which means the north Londoners will have to pay more than his previously reported £25 million fee.

“You can just say that with some players it can go incredibly fast,” said Denmark Under-21s coach Steffen Højer to bold.dk.

“He has already had a lot of playing minutes in Serie A with Lecce, and he has done really, really well. What is special about him is that he is a quiet and calm guy, but things are just incredibly natural for him on a football pitch.

“When he is put on a field, and it doesn’t matter which team, he just fits in, and he just makes incredibly many good choices for such a young player He has clear qualities, and then there is a lot of work that needs to be done in relation to both being part of the U21s, but also eventually making the national team.”

It’s been a challenging start to life in the Premier League for Ipswich Town this season.

Kieran McKenna’s side had to host Liverpool of all teams in their opening fixture of the campaign, and in the eight matches since, things haven’t gotten much easier, with games against the likes of Manchester City, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion to contend with.

However, despite this tough start, there are reasons to be optimistic about the Tractor Boys this year, as even though they are without a win, they have picked up four points and have done so playing some impressive football.

Moreover, a number of the club’s attacking stars have looked right at home in the top-flight, including Liam Delap, although he is being outperformed by a former Ipswich player sold six years ago.

Liam Delap's start to the season

It came as something of a surprise when Ipswich decided to spend up to £20m on Delap this summer, as while he had looked good for Hull City last season, scoring eight goals in 32 games, he was entirely unproven at the top level.

For example, during his years with Manchester City, the Winchester-born poacher had just two Premier League cameos to his name, which, combined with his age, meant there was an element of risk to his transfer.

However, we’re now nine games into the season, and it would be fair to say that the 6 foot 1 marksman has put any doubts people might have had over his ability firmly to rest.

In his ten appearances across all competitions, the Blues’ number 19 has scored five goals, including a brace against top-four chasing Villa, and has generally been a threat whenever he’s been on the pitch.

If Delap can keep up this vein of form for the whole season, then he might just be able to keep Ipswich up, and at that point, he’d have a real shout for being one of the best signings of the season.

Yet, the Englishman is actually being outperformed by a former player who was sold back in 2018.

David McGoldrick's recent form

Yes, the former Ipswich star in question is David McGoldrick, who joined the club on a short-term loan deal from Nottingham Forest in January 2013, which then became a permanent deal that summer.

The Irish international would spend five and a half seasons at Portman Road before leaving under manager Paul Hurst. He would leave the Suffolk side with a reasonable haul of 45 goals and 25 assists in 159 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement once every 2.07 games, which was enough to earn a move to Sheffield United in 2018 following a successful trial at the club.

The Nottingham-born ace would spend the next four years with the Blades, making 136 appearances, scoring 30 goals, providing 12 assists and more than making his mark at the club, with one fan pundit describing him as an “absolute genius.”

Ipswich Town

159

45

25

Sheffield United

136

30

12

Southampton

75

15

3

Nottingham Forest

73

9

5

Notts County

61

18

6

Derby County

45

25

7

Coventry City

25

17

2

Port Vale

18

2

2

Bournemouth

12

6

1

Sheffield Wednesday

4

1

0

He would leave the historic club upon the expiration of his contract in 2022 and spent the following season with League One side Derby County, where he scored 25 goals and provided seven assists in just 45 appearances and was named the club’s Player of the Year, as well as the PFA Player’s Player of the Year to boot.

However, instead of signing the new deal presented to him by Derby that summer, the 36-year-old would drop another division and rejoin Notts County, where he remains today and is currently in sensational form. In just 12 appearances, the former Ipswich ace has scored five goals and provided one assist, meaning he’s produced one more goal involvement than Delap.

Ultimately, McGoldrick is playing in a far weaker league than the Blues’ current star marksman, and nobody in their right mind would suggest he’s currently the better player. However, it is great to see that even at 36, he’s still finding the back of the net on a regular basis.

Ipswich struck gold selling "unplayable" ace for 7400% more than they paid

The talented star earned Ipswich a pretty penny.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 30, 2024

Stats highlights from the fourth day in Galle, when Sri Lanka made a strong start in their chase of 370

S Rajesh19-Jul-2014110 – The largest first-innings deficit for Sri Lanka in Tests which they’ve ended up winning. There’ve been only two instances of Sri Lanka turning around 100-plus run deficits into wins, and both were in matches when they batted first and got out cheaply: against Pakistan in Faisalabad in 1995 they were all out for 223 and conceded a lead of 110, but won by 42 runs, while against England at Headingley last month they were bowled out for 257 and conceded a lead of 108, but won by 100 runs. 58 – The largest first-innings deficit for Sri Lanka in Tests in which they’ve batted second and won the game. That happened at the SSC in Colombo against West Indies in 2005, when the visitors batted first and scored 285, and then bundled out Sri Lanka for 227. In their second innings, though, West Indies were bowled out for 113, and Sri Lanka chased down 172 losing only four wickets. 1 – Number of times, since their readmission to international cricket, that South Africa have lost a Test match after taking a first-innings lead of more than 100. The only such instance was against Australia in Port Elizabeth in 1997, when South Africa scored 209 and then bowled Australia out for 108, but ultimately lost the Test by two wickets. (This excludes the Test when South Africa forfeited an innings against England in Centurion in 2000.)300 – The highest fourth-innings total in Galle, by Pakistan in 2012. They lost that Test by 209 runs.1018 – The number of Test runs for Kumar Sangakkara in 2014, in 13 innings, at an average of 92.54. He is the first to go past 1000 Test runs for the year – the next-best is Angelo Mathews with 693.87.93 – AB de Villiers’ strike rate in South Africa’s second innings (51 off 58 balls), which is the third-best among South Africans who’ve scored 50 or more in a Test innings in Sri Lanka.68.50 – The average partnership in a Test innings between Sangakkara and Kaushal Silva. In 11 partnerships, they’ve added 685 runs, with one century and five half-century stands. The last three partnerships (including this one) have yielded 97, 98 and 96 runs.8 – The number of wickets in the match for Dilruwan Perera, the Sri Lankan offspinner. It’s the first instance of eight or more wickets in a match for a Sri Lankan right-arm spinner in almost four years – the last such instance was in August 2010, when Suraj Randiv took 9 for 162 against India in Colombo.

da premier bet： Preparing for Ruben Amorim’s arrival, INEOS have reportedly set their sights on a new Manchester United target who has earned comparisons to Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Guler.

Man Utd transfer news

da gbg bet： It would be an understatement to suggest that Amorim has a hefty task on his hands at Old Trafford. Several managers have tried and all have failed to awaken a sleeping giant, from Jose Mourinho all the way to Erik ten Hag. This time, as the first coach to arrive with a new sporting director in place in the form of Dan Ashworth, the Red Devils will be desperate to see their latest choice finally succeed.

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Manchester United secured their first win of the Europa League last night.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Nov 8, 2024

The former Sporting boss is due to arrive on November 11 to take charge of a side that he will hope is fresh from a four-game unbeaten run since Ten Hag’s dismissal, with Leicester City up next for interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. If the Dutchman defeats the Foxes for the second time in his short spell then he should consider his four-game tenure quite the success.

United’s recent turnaround doesn’t end the need for reinforcements, however, and those at Old Trafford seem to be well aware of that. According to reports in Spain, INEOS have now set their sights on Yunus Akgun, who has been compared to Turkey teammate and Real Madrid star Arda Guler.

The 24-year-old winger has reportedly emerged to become Manchester United’s latest target for Amorim after scoring six goals and assisting one other in 15 games for Galatasaray this season. On the scoresheet against United’s Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a recent 3-2 victory, Akgun is one to watch.

"Wonderful" Akgun would replace Antony

One of the first problem positions that Amorim must deal with is right-wing. Jadon Sancho tried and failed to star in that role to leave Manchester United spending big once again. Like Sancho, however, splashing the cash on Antony only added to the issue that the Red Devils must now solve once and for all, which could see Akgun arrive.

The 24-year-old is finally bursting into life at Galatasaray and living up to the praise that Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig sent his way in 2022, describing Akgun’s season as “wonderful” at the time.

Following Antony’s failure, Manchester United must spend wisely and Akgun represents an interesting option who has shown plenty of signs that he could be the man to finally solve their problem on the right-hand side.

Iain O’Brien picks his top three bowling and batting performances, and the top three foreign players this IPL season

23-May-2015

Three best bowlers

1:22

O’Brien: Starc has made Royal Challengers

3. Ashish Nehra
At 36, he has stood out for me as a left-arm pacer. They have been having a lot of success recently in all forms of international cricket. He has led the attack with 19 wickets in 14 matches. You can’t ask for much more from the 36 year-old. He has swung it and bowled at the top, at the death and in the middle overs.2. Yuzvendra Chahal
He had a good tournament last year with 12 wickets, but this year he has well and truly exceeded that with 23 wickets at an average of 18.04. He has been an extra handful for the opposition batsmen to deal with. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s success this IPL has a lot to do with his bowling.1. Mitchell Starc
He had a superb World Cup. One of the few Australian bowlers to have had success this tournament; he has picked 20 wickets. He has bowled at the start, at the death and a couple of spells in the middle overs. He has kept the run rate down, taken wickets and very rarely bowled expensive overs. He has been one of the men that has made Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Three best batting performances

2:08

O’Brien: Mandeep the match-changer

3. Mandeep Singh
He played a match-changing innings in the eliminator, when he scored 54 off 34 balls. While he might have been overshadowed by AB de Villiers, his innings changed the match. Their partnership made it very special for Royal Challengers. That innings really stood out for me and his two shots off Dhawal Kulkarni in the 10th over turned the tide.2. Shane Watson
His hundred against Kolkata Knight Riders in a virtual knockout was the innings of the tournament. He opened the innings and batted all the way through and created a score which Knight Riders were not able to chase down. He batted sensibly at the start and then brought out the brute force towards the end of the innings. It was classical in some parts and nastily brutal in the rest. That hundred against a fantastic Knight Riders bowling attack was one of the highlights of the IPL.1. AB de Villiers
He was the backbone of an impressive first-innings total. His innings was audacious and absolutely ridiculous. It was the kind of innings that no longer stands out for him, but it stands out for cricket watchers. It was another innings of class and showed why he is the best batsman in the world, by some distance.

Three best overseas players

1:39

O’Brien: Warner played beautiful cricket

3. David Warner
He captained the Sunrisers Hyderabad and opened the batting with Shikhar Dhawan and picked up the most Man of the Match awards this IPL. He averaged close to 50 and set up massive platforms but the rest of the team could not back him up. He was not all about brutal power, he played some beautiful cricket shots too.2. Mitchell Starc
He changed the fortunes of Royal Challengers after joining them. They were a team that were strong at the top of the batting order but were light in the bowling department. Starc’s wicket-taking ability really changed how they progressed through the tournament. A lot rested on his shoulders and he has been strong enough in terms of character and fitness to get through the tournament. Most importantly, he has had a lot of success where other Australian bowlers have failed.1. AB de Villiers
He is a phenomenal player and it is hard to keep him out of any team. His amazing, all-round skills can change a game in the blink of an eye. He can keep and is also fantastic in the field. AB is humble and leads by example. He is always at hand to help the younger players and is an excellent partnership builder.

Journalist Mark Douglas has revealed what Paul Mitchell plans to do with Alexander Isak regarding a new deal at Newcastle United.

Gordon, Isak & other Newcastle contracts

The Magpies are on the verge of agreeing a contract extension for Anthony Gordon, keeping him at St James’ Park until the summer of 2030. It is significant news, considering the 23-year-old was linked with a move to boyhood club Liverpool during the summer transfer window.

Away from the Gordon situation, there are plenty of Newcastle players who are due to be out of contract in the next couple of years, meaning that action is required when it comes to their futures.

The likes of Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn all see their current deals expire at the end of this season, at which point they will be allowed to leave on free transfers. It remains to be seen how many, if any, are retained by the club.

Meanwhile, Isak’s current contract is up in the summer of 2028 but that hasn’t stopped teams sniffing around, and Douglas has now revealed what Mitchell plans to do about that.

Newcastle step up contract talks with Isak

According to a new report from Douglas, Newcastle and Mitchell have stepped up their efforts to agree a new contract with Isak, as they look to tie down the striker and Gordon at the same time. Their sporting director is keen on “squad building” and the Swede is a primary area of focus.

Talks have gone up a gear, as the Magpies aim to retain the services of one of their most influential players, amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. The player has already indicated he’d like to stay in an initial round of talks, but Douglas claims more negotiations are planned soon.

Sorting a new deal for the currently £6m-a-year Isak feels as important as any new signing for Newcastle, given the impact he has had since arriving from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2022. The 25-year-old has scored 36 goals in 73 appearances for the Magpies, and had it not been for some injury absences, those tallies would be bigger.

He has even received huge praise from all-time legend Alan Shearer: “His whole game is really, really top notch. His runs are superb. If you just watch how clever he is when he doesn’t get the first pass played in, he then goes behind a defender to come back in and bend his run to make sure that he is onside, then he can make a really clever finish.”

Isak still has a huge amount to offer Newcastle, given his age, so to see him suddenly move elsewhere would be tough to take, especially if it was to one of the Magpies’ Premier League rivals.

Alexander Isak’s club career stats	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Real Sociedad	132	44	8
Newcastle United	73	36	6
AIK	29	13	1
Willem II	18	14	7
Borussia Dortmund	13	1	1

Granted, his fitness can be an issue, but he has only missed one league game so far this season and the hope is that injuries won’t define him moving forward, even though he will be absent for Tuesday night’s EFL Cup clash with AFC Wimbledon.

Isak has the ability and ceiling to be one of Newcastle’s greatest attacking players of the Premier League era, and if they keep hold of him for many more years, he can spearhead the club’s future success.

Seamer makes most of months on sidelines to justify leapfrogging Broad in pecking order

Vithushan Ehantharajah28-Aug-2022On Wednesday, on the eve of the second Test against South Africa, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad were driving back to the team hotel after a round of golf at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa. It was here that Broad first heard he would not be taking the new ball at Emirates Old Trafford.He wasn’t told, expressly. Instead, his captain floated the idea to the 36-year-old, whose last appearance as the third seamer in a home first innings was 100 Tests ago, at Trent Bridge in the 2013 Ashes Test. Broad had a think and quickly agreed the logic was sound.The response from Broad was to be expected for one who thrives on proving a point. His 3 for 37 in the first innings after being introduced first-change included Proteas skipper Dean Elgar. He ended up being the fifth option in the second innings, following an early foray for the spinners, but accounted for Aiden Markram, whom he’d earlier missed out on after overstepping.He now has 559 Test dismissals, four short of his hero Glenn McGrath who sits fifth on the all-time list. It’s not always the case that someone so decorated is so accommodating – indeed there have been times in the past when Broad might have contested the new tactic. But he took the demotion with grace, and Stokes lauded his senior man: “For Broady to understand the bigger picture about why I wanted that to be the option was an absolute credit to him.”What helped Broad see the bigger picture was that Stokes wanted to give the new ball to Ollie Robinson. Of all the quicks he has seen come through the changing-room door, Broad regards Robinson as one of the most skilful, which makes sense given that James Anderson was already inside when Broad himself walked in back in 2007. Despite Robinson being recalled for just his 10th Test, and his first since Hobart in January, Broad knew his team-mate was the better option.The prospect of this switch emerged after the England Lions match against South Africa at Canterbury, where the feedback to the main group was of Robinson’s joy against Sarel Erwee. After missing the series opener at Lord’s, and getting match-ready in the shadow of England’s innings defeat, the cord was pulled in Manchester to great effect.Robinson was unlucky to just take just the one wicket for 48 on day one – “he was on the best none-for that I’ve ever seen,” Stokes said at the post-match presentations – but bagged England’s best figures of the match on day three, with 4 for 43 as South Africa folded for 179 to confirm defeat and make it 1-1 going into the final match at The Oval.As it happens, despite the seed of an idea being planted at the start of August, and revealed to Broad on Wednesday, Robinson was only informed he was opening from the Brian Statham End after Elgar had won the toss on Thursday morning and opted to bat first.”I got told 10 minutes before we were going out I was taking the new ball,” Robinson said on Saturday night, “and then got the nod as we walked onto the field.”I was buzzing because I feel that’s my strength – making the batsman play as much as possible with the new ball. So it was a nice confidence booster from Stokesy and Baz as well.”Ollie Robinson says he has become a ‘gym freak’ in the months since his previous Test appearance in the Ashes•Getty Images

For the 28-year-old, who now boasts 44 dismissals at 20.93 at Test level, this felt like the turning of a page in a 14-month international career that has already been punctuated with controversy and misfortune. Of the 10 matches he has missed since making his debut at Lord’s against New Zealand at the start of the 2021 home season, one was due to a suspension after the emergence of historic offensive tweets, three were because he was not fit enough to cope with the rigours of a Test winter, and the four at the start of this summer were due to a combination of Covid-19, back troubles and a dental issue.”It’s been a tough six months with injury and a few doubts about myself,” Robinson said. “So it’s really satisfying to get the win here and make a decent contribution at the end.”I’ve tried to keep my head up, be quite positive and try to work as hard as I can to just get back into this environment. I was chuffed to be in this squad before we played the first Test, and to play this one I was over the moon. It’s just great to be back and that winning feeling – you just can’t beat it.”The overriding narrative around Robinson has been about fitness, something made public during the Ashes. Bowling coach Jon Lewis said Robinson needed to be fitter after struggling in the fifth Test of the 4-0 defeat, stating: “He’s got to get used to understanding what it takes to be a full-time year-round international cricketer.”It was a statement that resonated beyond the dressing-room because of the implication that Robinson was not as professional as he should be. But there were also some who felt the public chastising was not the best approach. Robinson, however, accepts nothing said was incorrect, and that Lewis, who remains part of the backroom staff but will be moved back to the ECB pathways at the end of the summer, was not saying anything he hadn’t told Robinson in private. Since working together at Sussex, the pair have a strong relationship.”It’s not easy but we’re an honest group,” Robinson said. “I took that on the chin and took it as a wake-up call as well. So I’ve used that to drive me forward in the last six months and, when times have got tough, I’ve just used that as a drive to try and keep positive.Related

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“I’ve always had that positive mindset that I would get back,” he added. “I think people don’t realise that me and Jon go back quite a long way. He was my bowling coach at Sussex for three, four years. So we do have that honest relationship. It’s just hasn’t obviously come out in the press before, but we do have that honest relationship where we can say what we feel and how we felt and we just moved on after that. We spoke about it, moved on, and like I said it drove me for the last six months to get to this place today.”It is a place where, now, training no longer feels like a chore. “I’ve become a bit of a gym freak,” he added with a smile, “which I never thought I’d say.”I wake up in the morning and I’m like, I’ve really got to go to the gym. Yeah, so it’s become a bit of a habit, whereas before it was a chore and I think that’s really helped me as well. The running three times a week, the gymming three times a week, it’s just ingrained in me now, which hopefully will help for years to come.”The real change has been one of mindset rather than diet and behaviour, something triggered by chats with Stokes during the period in which Robinson was sidelined. Much of that was of the standards expected, but there was empathy, too. Stokes used himself as an example of someone who did not fully appreciate the importance of fine-tuning your body until later in his career.Stuart Broad took his demotion to first-change with grace and produced a vital first-innings spell•AFP/Getty Images

“When he first started international cricket he wasn’t in the shape he is now, and I spoke to him about how he got there – mentally, physically, the lot. And he really helped me in that stage of building back to this point today. Along with the England medical team and everyone behind the scenes, they really helped me. I’m not there yet, I’m not the finished article at all, but we’re well on the way of getting there hopefully.”Robinson regards the last six months as something of a blessing in disguise. An intense first half of his career has given way to a much quieter one in which he has been able to improve his numbers without a ball in his hand.”We’ve got obviously the last Test and then we’ve probably got six, seven weeks again before Pakistan,” he said. “So I have the opportunity again to go to the next level again. So that’s what I’m thinking at the moment, just using that time as wisely as I can to improve myself as best I can.”This realisation, authentic if overdue and all the more welcome for it, comes at a crucial juncture for the life cycle of this England side. As much as there has been a reinvigoration of Anderson and Broad, quite how long both have left is a constant fear, even if the pair state they are as happy and as willing as ever.Beyond their world-class ability is longevity, which has offered England an earthing, even in troubled times. And while they are still around, Robinson says he will absorb as much of their knowledge as possible while also working out how he might replicate their endurance, popularity and, ultimately, legacy.”Watching them two is so inspirational for me.” he said. “That’s how I want to be: I want the crowd cheering my name and that’s what I’m driving to do.”I had a point today when I was fielding at mid-off and I thought ‘I don’t want to do this for 18 months. I want to do this for five, six years’ and I feel more driven today than I did at the start of my career. I feel in such a good headspace now, after this week’s game, I can drive on and push on a lot more.”