As back spasm ends his day, Robinson ordered to get fitter

OLLIE ROBINSON has been told to improve his fitness if he is to have a long Test future. Robinson was superb with the new pink ball on the first day of the fifth Test in taking the wickets of David Warner and Steve Smith and having Marnus Labuschagne dropped on nought as Australia crashed to 12 for three and then 83 for four. But he then suffered a back spasm, after missing the fourth Test in Sydney with a shoulder problem, and was forced out of the attack as Australia recovered to 241 for six. England bowling coach Jon Lewis suggested Robinson’s problems are indicative of a struggle to maintain fitness levels necessary for sustained success at the highest level. ‘It’s something he needs to improve,’ said Lewis. ‘Ollie has to understand what it takes to play all year round in international cricket. There is a higher intensity and it’s definitely something he needs to work on. ‘He needs to be a fitter bowler, one hundred per cent and these are conversations we’ve been having with him. We’ve been frank. Now it’s up to him to go and do the work. ‘So far he’s been OK but we play a lot of cricket and train at the same time and it’s not always straightforward.’