Ollie Robinson suffers further fitness setback after testing positive for Covid

ollie robinsonThe cascade of injuries and misfortunes has been compounded by the news that he tested positive for Covid-19 last week, on the day he was due to feature in a County Select XI to prove his fitness against New Zealand in Chelmsford.

robinson was ruled out of tour match after reporting back stiffness during Thursday’s warm-ups. “Ollie felt a bit of a stiffness in his back as he warmed up this morning before the match,” said Richard Dawson, the ECB’s elite coach. “We had a conversation and we felt as a precaution that it was sensible for him to stay out of this game. We will evaluate it and move on.”

The ECB announced on Monday that he had then tested positive for Covid-19 later that day. While there is no longer a government-mandated isolation period in the UK, players have been told by the ECB they must withdraw from games if they test positive and Robinson has been isolating himself.

“With regard to lower back symptoms that prevented him from playing in the four-day tour match for the FCC Select XI against the New Zealand Tourists in Chelmsford last week, he will be assessed after his period of isolation at the end of this week,” a statement from the ECB. he said. “More information will be confirmed in due course from him.”

The 28-year-old Robinson has taken 39 wickets at 21.28 in his nine Tests since making his debut against New Zealand at Lord’s last year, but his career is at a crossroads, with off-field problems and health issues a backdrop. constant background of its impressive field. performances

He was suspended and fined after offensive historical tweets surfaced during his debut last year and then publicly called out by Jon Lewisthe England bowling coach, for his low level of fitness after a back spasm limited his participation in the final Ashes test in Hobart in January, a test that culminated in him backing out and being thrown on a full bowl to complete an innings loss.

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He traveled to the Caribbean for England’s series against the West Indies in March, where he was to lead the attack with Chris Woakes, but did not play a game in the series after a recurrence of back spasms and his participation in the county championship this season has been minimal for a number of reasons, including a dental infection and an episode of food poisoning.

Robinson was omitted from the England squad for the first two Tests of their three-match series against New Zealand, which begins at Lord’s on Thursday, and his latest setback means he will have little opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the third Test at Headingley. in June. 23: Sussex’s only championship game before then is against Glamorgan on June 12 and he’s not an automatic pick on his T20 side.

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