Former England captain Nasser Hussain said England pacer Ollie Robinson might face the same when he walks out to bat in their second innings against Australia in the ongoing Ashes 2023 Test in Edgbaston as well. However, Robinson dismissed Usman Khawaja and gave him a send-off with some unpleasant words. However, in the press conference after the end of play on Day 3, the speedster claimed he didn’t care what others thought about his send-off.
Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket, Nasser Hussain said: “I spoke to Ben Stokes in Chennai about Ollie Robinson saying ‘We are going to hammer Australia.’ We almost did a Glenn McGrath. And then Ben just went ‘Well, it’s Ollie being Ollie. He is a confident cricketer.’ You prefer it that way than in our era when the Aussies came and we were all timid and had mental scars and baggage. But words have consequences and when he goes out to bat, he is going to get it as well (smiles).”
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However, Ollie Robinson’s statement has led to a debate about whether he was right to celebrate the way he did or if he crossed the line. Nasser Hussain again tried to first think from the player’s perspective and then he also felt it was fair enough as it happened in the heat of the moment.
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“There are two strands to the argument. i will never ever have a go at someone who shows emotions in the moment. That’s the game we play. We can sit here with our Latte and our crossaints and go ‘Why is he doing that? Poor old Uzi.’ I did it when Rabada was in Joe Root’s face and he got done for that. That is emotion. To give someone a send-off verbally when they’re out, I never really like it. You’ve got him out, he has got a 140 (141). Do you really need to give him a send-off? And then double it down in the press conference? You say ‘I got carried away in the heat of the moment,'” Nasser Hussain concluded.
