Ashes 2021-22: Ollie Robinson Needs To Improve On His Fitness - England Bowling Coach Jon Lewis

England bowling coach Jon Lewis said that pacer Ollie Robinson needs to work on his fitness after the 28-year-old suffered a back spasm on the opening day of the final Ashes Test against Australia on Friday. Robinson dismissed David Warner and Steve Smith in his opening spell on day 1 of the fifth and final Test in Hobart. However, since picking up the back spasm, he did not look his usual self.

Bowling coach Jon Lewis spoke to the reporters after the first day’s play giving an update regarding Robinson’s fitness. He could only bowl 8 overs on day 1 of the fifth Test.

“(His fitness) is something he needs to improve. He’s got a record of playing a lot of games of county cricket but international cricket is of higher intensity and you play it all year round. So he’s got to get used to understanding what it takes to be a full-time year-round international cricketer and playing that extra day, five days of test cricket” Lewis said.

While confirming that Ollie Robinson was suffering from back spasm, Lewis said that the onus is on him to recover overnight and get fit for the second day’s play.

“These things can come and go. We’re hoping that, with treatment overnight, he can come back tomorrow and be free enough to bowl. So that was the reason that he stayed on the field for as much as he did, even though he wasn’t moving as well as he could” the England bowling coach further said.

When asked about how hard the England pacer is working on his fitness, Lewis responded in the affirmative. He said Robinson is working hard and that is working on getting fitter with him.

We Are Working With Him To Get Him Fitter: Jon Lewis On Ollie Robinson

“It’s something he’s definitely looking at, and definitely we’re working on with him. If he’s going to perform consistently over a long period of time at this level, he will need to be a fitter bowler, 100%,”  Lewis told BT Sport at the close of play on day 1.

Meanwhile, Australia ended day 1 of the fifth Test on 241/6 and are inching closer to 300 in the first session of day 2. Robinson has not bowled anymore in the game.

Also Read: AUS vs ENG Prediction- Who Will Win The Match Between Australia vs England, Ashes 2021-22, 5th Test