OLLIE HAS A JOLLY TIME IN TEST WIN
OLLIE Robinson produced a dazzling display of seam bowling as England steamrollered India on the fourth morning of the Headingley Test, romping to victory by an innings and 76 runs.
The tourists had scraped and clawed their way back into the game on day three, reaching 215 for two to clear much of their foreboding 354run deficit, but saw their resistance reduced to rubble as England squared the LV= Insurance Series 1-1 in emphatic fashion.
England took eight wickets for 63 as they blew their rivals away with a relentless whirlwind of probing pace bowling and unflappable catching. Robinson was the star performer, taking four big wickets to wrap up fine figures of five for 65.
James Anderson and Moeen Ali took one apiece as the pressure piled up, before Craig Overton mopped things up to leave India shellshocked at 278 all out.
It was a glorious day for Robinson in particular, proving himself at the very highest level at a ground where his career almost went off the rails.
The 27-year-old was sacked by Yorkshire as a teenager for breaches of club discipline but now he was the toast of a delirious Western Terrace.
It was also a proud day for another of the White Rose county’s favourite sons as Joe Root finally overtook Michael Vaughan with a record 27th Test victory in 55 games as England captain.
“As I mentioned before the game, I’m living my boyhood dream captaining England,” said Root.
“I couldn’t be more proud to have gone past Michael but you don’t do that on your own as a captain, it’s down to the group of players and the coaching staff as well.
“You’re the one making the decisions but they are the ones going out, time and time again putting in performances. I’m really proud of the way they have done that this week.
“I’m sat here now at 1-1 with a big, smiley dressing-room and two big games ahead of us.”
He is five Tests away from overtaking his predecessor Sir Alastair Cook as England’s longest-serving skipper and could go well past that mark.
“It’s been a very challenging period throughout my tenure as captain, there has been a lot to contend with, a lot around the games, and not necessarily all the full focus has been on the field,” he said.
“But that’s part and parcel of the job. I haven’t put a time limit on it. As long as I am enjoying it, as long as we feel like we are moving in the right direction and that I am the right man for it in my own mind, I am more than happy to keep doing it.”
Root shared the stage with Robinson, who was named player of the match for his efforts with the ball. The 27-year-old has taken to Test cricket like a duck to water and was impeccable as he put together figures of two for 16 and five for 65.
With the game up for grabs on Saturday, he roared in and got the best of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma in a single, destructive spell from the Kirkstall Lane End.
“It feels like a very special day. I don’t quite feel like it’s settled in yet but, for me, it’s one of the great days in my cricket career,” he said.
“It was an amazing feeling, the crowd here were unbelievable. The noise when we got Kohli out was deafening, it was just an unbelievable experience and feeling to get that wicket.
“It’s come off the back of quite a few hard, hard years. I’ve had to work hard to get here and do a lot of extra to get here, so to get the rewards in the last four Test matches has been very pleasing.”