ENG vs IND | Ollie Robinson could prove to be the X-factor versus India, opines Monty Panesar

Ollie Robinson’s historic tweets made him the talk of the town last month, but in the solitary Test he played, the Sussex man made a hell of an impression. On a flat Lord’s wicket, Robinson finished with figures of 7/101 and tormented the Kiwis, and in all likelihood would have played the second Test had it not been for the social media exposé. Now having served his ban, Robinson is free to play for England again, and has been named in the 17-man squad to face India. 

“The Indian batsmen will struggle with really tall bowlers and, if he plays, that could provide an X-factor that will make the Indian batsmen feel uncomfortable.

Robinson was initially indefinitely suspended, but an independent committee fined him £3,200 and gave him a suspended sentence which made him eligible to represent the Three Lions with immediate effect. Panesar said that Robinson had served his punishment, and hoped for England to include the 27-year-old in the starting XI against India. 

“I think they should bring him back into the team and that will make the series competitive.

On the back of India dishing out rank turners in the four-Test series earlier this year, it remains to be seen if England will reply by providing green tops for the five-Test series, something that they have done in the past. Panesar, though, believes that due to financial reasons, the ECB will dish out flat wickets in the hope of stretching the Tests to the fifth day. The former England spinner, however, believes that the hosts will have an edge if the conditions are tilted in favour of the bowlers.

“I think there will be flat wickets. There is huge talk about green pitches versus the spinning decks in India and home advantage but I predict the ECB would want the Test matches to go to a fourth and fifth day for the revenue.