Ashes 2023: ‘If Archer, Wood were fit, they’d be playing clubbies,’ says Michael Clarke on Robinson’s heated spat with Khawaja

England fast bowler Ollie Robinson has attracted the attention of many former Australian cricketers and the latest sarcasm has come from former Australian captain Michael Clarke. Clarke said that if England had a fully fit and available squad for the series opener at Edgbaston, Robinson would not have played in the Ashes either.

Robinson is facing criticism for his aggressive dismissal of Usman Khawaja, who was dismissed for 141 in the first innings of the first Test. Robinson took five wickets in that game, but his level of cricket has been questioned by many former Australia cricketers including Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and now even Michael Clarke.

“He needs to be silenced,” Clarke said on the Big Sports Breakfast. (Also Read: Broad hits back at Hayden for calling Ollie Robinson a ‘forgettable cricketer’)

“He needs to concentrate on taking wickets.. Oli, just keep taking five wickets and then you can say whatever you want,” he said.

“If England were fully fit you wouldn’t even get a match, Ollie. If Jofra Archer was playing, or if (Chris) Wood was playing and fully fit, old mate – I don’t know if he Which city does he play for – he will come back playing for the club. I really don’t know what he is doing. If James Anderson is saying all this, it means he is a fool. He played 180 test matches Yes, he’s taken a lot of wickets. This guy’s been around for five minutes.

Playing with Ali with injured finger would be a gamble

Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes all-rounder Moeen Ali is doubtful for the second Ashes Test due to a bowling arm injury, which could force England into a crucial change.

If Moeen is ruled out of the second Ashes Test against Australia due to a serious finger injury, Hussain has encouraged England to accelerate. Moeen was lured out of retirement to bolster England’s spin options for the Ashes series, but injured his spinner in the First Test and remains doubtful for the high-stakes match at Lord’s Is.
Rehan Ahmed, a teenage star, has been included in the squad as cover for the all-rounder, although Hussain has urged England to field an additional pacer if the Lord’s pitch and weather conditions permit.

“I think he needs to have a little look at his team. Moeen Ali, his finger, it will be a gamble. I know he’s got a week off and he’s had this injury earlier in 2017. Only Moeen will know whether a week is enough for the skin to heal, or whether it will tear it again,” Hussain told the ICC Review Podcast.

Moeen bowled 33 overs in the first innings despite a finger problem. In addition to being fined 25 percent of his match fee for applying a foreign substance to his finger without the umpire’s permission, he took two wickets but conceded 147 runs.

“Maybe he doesn’t bowl so many overs at Lord’s. Lord’s is not a spinning paradise. Shane Warne never got a five-wicket haul there. I can play four fast bowlers and Joe Root as your spinner, but I don’t pitch Have seen.” He added.

The second Ashes Test between Australia and England begins at Lord’s on Wednesday. England were defeated in the First Test at Edgbaston by two wickets.

England squad for Lord’s: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Jack Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root , Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood. (with ANI inputs)