James Anderson, the English fast bowler, has come out in support of his teammate Ollie Robinson regarding his aggressive send-off to Usman Khawaja during the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Anderson believes that Robinson did nothing wrong and did not hear any unacceptable remarks on the field.
In the first innings of the England vs Australia Test, Robinson dismissed Usman Khawaja with a superb delivery. After taking the wicket, Robinson gave Khawaja an aggressive send-off and exchanged a few heated words with the Australian batsman. The incident was captured on camera and garnered significant attention.
In his column for The Telegraph, James Anderson expressed his opinion that Ollie Robinson’s actions were justified during his interaction with Khawaja. Anderson also encouraged Robinson to maintain his aggressive approach in future matches.
Also Read: Ashes 2023: James Anderson Criticizes Lifeless Edgbaston Pitch, Threatens to Quit Ashes if Similar Pitches Persist
“Ollie did nothing wrong when he had his moment with Khawaja. In fact, I stood at mid-off for most of the game and didn’t hear anything said by either team that was unacceptable. I don’t want Ollie to change. I like him getting fired up. He bowls better when he is in that mood. From personal experience, I know I bowl better when I am a bit more aggressive and intense,” wrote James Anderson.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Sanjay Manjrekar Suggests Ishan Kishan as Potential Replacement for Injured KL Rahul in ODIs
While several former Australian cricketers criticized Ollie Robinson for his actions towards Usman Khawaja, Anderson believes that these comments are merely attempts to stay relevant in the media.
“It has provoked a reaction from a few former Australian cricketers who have had their say in the media. That’s fine. I’m sure I will do the same as an ex-player. You have to stay in the news and keep getting work. It’s expected. More people will likely voice their opinions as the series progresses,” Anderson further commented.
Australia emerged victorious in the opening Test at Edgbaston, defeating England by 2 wickets. The visitors successfully chased down the target of 282 runs. With this win, Australia takes a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series. The second Test is scheduled to begin on July 28 at Lord’s in London.