NEW DELHI: England suffered a setback as pacer Ollie Robinson endured an injury during the fourth Test match against India at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.
Head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed the unfortunate incident after England's defeat, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding Robinson's ailment.
McCullum revealed that Robinson experienced discomfort while batting in England's first innings, resulting in a back twinge that impacted his bowling performance.
"He actually twinged his back while batting in the first innings, which is why in those initial couple of spells, he was down on pace," stated McCullum in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.
Despite the setback, McCullum expressed empathy towards Robinson, acknowledging the disappointment felt by the player and emphasizing the importance of providing him with support and confidence for future opportunities.
"Robinson has been the most disappointed person. For one reason or another, it didn't quite work out for him, and obviously, he's not just as disappointed as everyone else, he's the most disappointed out of everyone," McCullum remarked.
England's defeat in the fourth Test marked their third consecutive loss in the series, relinquishing their early 1-0 advantage gained from a narrow victory in Hyderabad. McCullum highlighted the need for resilience in the face of adversity, as demonstrated by India's ability to bounce back in the series.
"Our job is to make sure we get around him and make sure we give him as much support and confidence to be able to go again when the next time arises. It's just sport right? You have great expectations and sometimes you're not quite able to deliver," McCullum added.
The injury to Robinson compounded England's woes as they suffered a disappointing performance in the fourth Test, allowing India to secure a comprehensive victory and clinched the series.
The focus now shifts to the fifth and final Test match, scheduled to commence on March 7 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. England will be eager to bounce back and salvage a positive result to conclude the series.
(With inputs from ANI)
