Australia

England bowler suspended over racist, sexist tweets


England fast bowler Ollie Robinson has been suspended from international cricket, pending an investigation into discriminatory tweets he posted between 2012 and 2013.

Robinson will not be available for the second Test against New Zealand starting Thursday, the England and Wales Cricket Board said.

“Robinson will leave the England camp immediately and return to his county,” England said about the Sussex bowler.

The 27-year-old made his Test debut in the first match of the series at Lord’s, which ended in a draw on Sunday.

Robinson took seven wickets on debut in the match, and also hit 42 in England’s first innings.

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He posted the tweets, which were racist and sexist in nature, when he was 18 and 19.

They resurfaced during the first day of the Test, overshadowing his impressive performance.

Robinson was close to tears as he issued an apology after stumps on day one in which he said he was not racist or sexist.

“On the biggest day of my career so far, I am embarrassed by the racist and sexist tweets that I posted over eight years ago,” Robinson said.

“I was thoughtless and irresponsible, and regardless of my state of mind at the time, my actions were inexcusable.

“Since that period, I have matured as a person and fully regret the tweets.”

England labour to draw at Lord’s 

Joe Root defended not going for the win at Lord’s.(

AP: Kirsty Wigglesworth

)

England batted slowly and carefully on Sunday to hold out against New Zealand on the final day of the first Test at Lord’s.

After England had advanced to 170-3 in 70 overs in its second innings, a draw was agreed in the two-Test series opener.

England captain Joe Root defended the decision not to chase the victory target of 273 after New Zealand earlier declared its second innings at 169-6.

“If you look at the conditions, the surface, it was very challenging. It was slow, hard to time the ball, hard to get any sort of rhythm when you’re batting out there,” Root told the BBC. 

“Initially we set out to have quite an open mind, see where we got to after a 15-20-over period. It got to a stage where it didn’t feel like it was quite possible to take that on.”

The Black Caps had set the game up on the final day by advancing their overnight 62-2 to a declaration during lunch with captain Kane Williamson hopeful of tempting England in the final two sessions.

But a grandstand finish failed to materialise with opener Dom Sibley’s stubborn 60 not out from 207 balls blunting the Kiwi bowlers before a draw was agreed with five overs left.

A washout on day three ultimately conspired against New Zealand while Williamson believes the pitch flattening out on Sunday was a boon for England.

“A bit of a shame but a lot of positives for the guys to take, for sure.”

New Zealand scored 378 in its first innings after winning the toss, and England replied with 275.

The second Test starts Thursday at Edgbaston and England will be missing Robinson for that match.

AP



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