All cricket fans and experts are keeping a close eye on all the players who could make a difference in the upcoming Ashes because of how much hype there has been about the event. Players like Steve Smith, Ollie Robinson, and Marnus Labuschagne have been playing in the County Championship to get used to the weather and conditions before the big series.
In a recent county match between fourth-placed Sussex and third-placed Glamorgan, Marnus Labuschagne played against Steven Smith and Cheteshwar Pujara. He didn’t do much, though, because England bowler Ollie Robinson got rid of him on the very first ball. The game made news right away because the rivalry is expected to be a key part of the Ashes.
Robinson tried to hit Labuschagne’s front pad as he bowled down the slope at Hove. He sailed in and hit a home run. Robinson took off in a similar way to how Stuart Broad did when he hit his mark, and then he quickly looked over his shoulder to see if judge Rob White had raised his finger or not. Even though video showed that the Decision Review System would not have helped him if it had been available, Labuschagne seemed to suggest that the ball might have been a little higher to hit the wickets.
Robinson had been the England team’s leader on many times when James Anderson and Stuart Broad weren’t there. The England seamer has been in incredible form in Division Two of the County Championship. He has taken 19 wickets in just three games. In the game against Worcestershire, which was played at Worcester, he got 14/177, which was the best score of his career.
Based on how he’s been playing, Robinson could be a part of the England team for all five Ashes games. The fact that he seems to be getting fitter could be the cherry on top. Labuschagne might be able to say that Robinson’s threat was also known to Australia. Even though he was often out of shape and slow, he took 11 wickets at an average of 25.54. He is now better than ever, which will help England’s pace attack.