Trailing hosts India 1-2 in the ongoing red-ball series, England are considering bringing in their specialist pacer Ollie Robinson for the fourth Test against India in Ranchi as they struggle for the right balance in the playing eleven going into the next fixture, according to ESPNcricinfo. If England do decide to go with Robinson, the 30-year-old will make his first appearance in the ongoing tour. The visitors have changed their seam bowling options throughout the first three Tests.
Tearaway Mark Wood featured in the opening Test in Hyderabad but went wicketless in both innings. He sat out the next Test in Vizag, with seasoned campaigner James Anderson coming in his place and picking up five wickets in both innings. In the third Test, England changed their bowling line-up once again, with Wood and Anderson both featuring in the playing XI but failing to prevent the visitors from going down by 434 runs in Rajkot.
Both pacers bowled 75.5 overs in the third Test and kept chasing the ball in the outfield for a considerable length of time in the fixture that lasted four days. Considering that Wood and the veteran, Anderson, may be worn out going into the Ranchi Test, Robinson would offer a fresh pair in the outfield for England apart from his seam bowling prowess.
Robinson would make his first appearance since playing against Australia at Headingley in July last year. He had an underwhelming Ashes series but will back himself to perform with his stunning tally of 76 wickets in 19 appearances in Test for England.
Head coach Brendon McCullum will also need to make a decision on Shoaib Bashir who made his debut in the second Test and impressed during his time on the field. He claimed India skipper Rohit Sharma as his first Test
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