The Ashes: Ollie Robinson justifies Khawaja’s send-off after Border and Healy criticizes him

The Ashes: Ollie Robinson, who gave Usman Khawaja a mouthful after dismissing him for 141, has come under fire from former Australian cricketers Ian Healy and Allan Border.

Allan Border, a former captain of Australia, said he is aware that his response was impulsive and that he will hopefully get even when he enters the pitch to bat in England’s second innings.

“I have heard some send-offs and have given some send-offs myself. It is sort of heat of the moment sort of stuf,” Border told SEN Breakfast.

“Generally, I think Robinson is a pretty fair bloke from what I gather. But, you get fired up as a big fast bowler, words are said and then afterwards it’s all forgotten about generally. The media will jump on it, of course, but you know what goes around comes around, he’s put a bit of a target on his head. When he comes out the bat, hopefully it’s early tomorrow, and the Aussies won’t forget that’s for sure.”

Healy thinks Robinson ought to pay a fine because he was attempting to get Khawaja to retaliate.

“It is a lack of class like he’s been criticised for, but that’s ok, it happens in the heat of the moment. I think he should have been punished because it was shown so closely on TV and it does incite retaliation” Healy told SENQ Breakfast.

“If Khawaja retaliated to that and said something back to him, he’d probably get in trouble. He (Robinson) was trying to incite that, it was rude and it was rugged. There probably should have been a little fine handed down to Ollie.”

Meanwhile, Robinson has defended his actions, saying the Australian team has also been capable of similar.

England seamer defends his act says ‘you’ve done this to us for years’

Ollie Robinson of England said he doesn’t care how Usman Khawaja’s celebration of his wicket on Day 3 of the first Ashes Test was seen by Australia players or by online users.

After taking the wicket of the Australian centurion on a soggy day three of the first Ashes Test, Robinson launched into an expletive-filled outburst intended at Usman Khawaja that has drawn much condemnation in the cricketing community. After falling to 2-28 in their second inning when play was halted early on day three owing to two rain delays, England will try to increase their 35-run advantage.

Khawaja’s outstanding 141 helped Australia reach its total of 386 before the visitors quickly took two England wickets when play resumed after the first brief rain break. In the opening 20 minutes of play, the Australians took advantage of the gloomy weather, with Pat Cummins dismissing Ben Duckett after a superb catch from Cam Green and Scott Boland getting Zak Crawley behind on 7.

Following many lbws, Joe Root was involved in appeals before additional rain came and ruined the rest of the day. However, Robinson’s earlier dismissal of Khawaja—whom the England bowler was heard cursing after he dismissed the Australian batsman for 141—attracted the most of the attention.

The Ashes: Ollie Robinson defends outburst after his Usman Khawaja send-off in first Test

“We’ve all seen Ricky Ponting and other Aussies do the same to us,” Robinson said in the post-day press conference. “Just because the shoe is on the other foot, it’s not received well.”

Robinson, 29, has not been contacted by the match referee and refused to comment when asked if he expects to be.

“It’s my first home Ashes Test and to get the big wicket was special,” said the Sussex man.

“Uzzie played unbelievably well and to get that wicket was massive. We want that theatre of the game, so I’m here to provide it.”

“I don’t really care how it’s perceived. It’s the Ashes, professional sport. If you can’t handle that, what can you handle?” Robinson responded when asked if Khawaja’s outburst might make him a target for the Australians.

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