- Robinson Defends Foul-Mouthed Celebration
- Accusations of Hypocrisy and Comparison to Past Incidents
- Excitement and Expectations for Final Day
Ollie Robinson has defended his foul-mouthed farewell to Usman Khawaja, who scored 141 of Australia’s first-innings 386 on Sunday and played so well “it felt like we were never going to get him out”, telling his critics: “I don’t care how it was perceived – it’s the Ashes, it’s a professional sport, if you can’t handle that, what can you handle?”
Robinson bowled a yorker that removed Khawaja’s off-stump, prompting an emotional celebration in which he shouted, “Fuck off, you fucking prick.”
Robinson stated, “This is my first home Ashes, and it was a special moment for me to take the big wicket.” Unbelievably, Uzzy played exceptionally well, and the significance of that wicket cannot be overstated. We all desire the drama of the game, don’t we? I am here to offer it.”
The English sailor accused the Australian journalists of hypocrisy when they continued to query him about the incident. “When you’re in the heat of the moment and have the passion of the Ashes, that can happen,” he said.
“I believe we’ve all witnessed Ricky Ponting and other Australians do the same to us. And now that the shoe is on the other foot, it is not well received.”
Alex Carey, the wicketkeeper for Australia, stated that Robinson’s jubilation was not discussed in the dressing room. “Usman hasn’t said anything. It is the Ashes, so sometimes it will be combative,” he stated. I genuinely did not find anything excessive there.
Between rain delays in the afternoon, Australia claimed two wickets for two runs off 22 deliveries, reducing England’s second innings to 28 for two with a 35-run lead. “The lights came on, the ball was moving around, and it was pretty exciting,” Carey stated.
In addition to being fined 25% of his match fee for using a drying agent on his hands during Australia’s innings, England’s Moeen Ali wore a hole in the flesh on the forefinger of his bowling hand from repeated contact with the seam of the ball. Robinson believed England could bowl out Australia on the final day.
“If they had a score to chase, that [time] would allow us to bowl them out,” he explained. If they were playing for a draw and as defensive as they have been, things may be different.
