Ollie Robinson Takes 4 Wickets at Lord’s Test to Leave New Zealand Reeling at 61-6

England – (Web Desk) – England pacer Ollie Robinson grabbed four wickets for just 10 runs on his return to Test cricket, making Ollie Robinson 4 wickets at Lord’s Test the talk of the cricket world as New Zealand collapsed to 61 for 6 at stumps on day one.

Robinson had been away from Test cricket for more than two years. Questions had been raised about his fitness and attitude. But on Thursday, at the home of cricket, he answered every single one of those questions in the most dramatic fashion possible.

England lost the toss and were bowled out for just 140. It looked like a difficult day for the hosts. But when New Zealand came out to bat, everything changed in the space of just a few balls.

Robinson came on to bowl in the second over of New Zealand’s innings. What followed was almost impossible to believe. He took three wickets for no runs in just four balls, leaving New Zealand at 2 for 3.

First, he trapped Devon Conway lbw with his third delivery. Then, in the same over, he dismissed Kane Williamson for a duck. The New Zealand great, known for one of the finest defensive techniques in world cricket, could not cope with Robinson’s movement. Rachin Ravindra followed him back to the pavilion off the very next ball, also for a duck.

The Lord’s crowd, usually calm and reserved, was on its feet chanting Robinson’s name.

“I was just trying to wobble it today and hit that fuller length,” Robinson said after stumps. “I think it was just one of those days. Really special to get those four wickets and put the team in a great position.”

Robinson was not done. He later came back and bowled Daryl Mitchell to add a fourth wicket to his name. Gus Atkinson had Tom Latham lbw, while Josh Tongue knocked over Tom Blundell’s stumps. New Zealand were in ruins at 29 for 6 inside just 13 overs.

Glenn Phillips, unbeaten on 31, and Nathan Smith, on 6, steadied the ship before bad light brought an early end to play. England finished the day 79 runs ahead despite their own poor batting performance.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson had given his side real hope. The tall right-armer took five wickets for 62 runs in 14 overs to bowl England out cheaply.

Harry Brook top-scored with 56, although he was dropped twice before finding his touch. Joe Root and Jamie Smith both managed just one run each. England captain Ben Stokes, celebrating his 35th birthday, fell for 12 when Kane Williamson took a stunning one-handed catch diving in front of first slip.

Debutant opener Emilio Gay made eight on his first appearance in Test cricket. He hit his very first ball in Tests for four, following in the footsteps of England legend David Gower, before edging to the slips.

This was the 150th Test match ever played at Lord’s. In the long and proud history of this famous ground, few opening days can have produced drama quite like this. Sixteen wickets fell before bad light ended proceedings early.

England will resume on day two looking to extend their lead and push for a strong first-innings advantage in this three-match series, their first Test assignment after a heavy 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.