Joe Root: “Ollie [Robinson] wasn’t as good as we would have liked or he was expecting himself… He’s working very hard but there’s something that’s nagging away at him”; England’s third Test against West Indies gets underway on Thursday, with the series all square heading into decider
Last Updated: 23/03/22 4:54pm
England are set to be without bowler Ollie Robinson once more for the third and final Test against the West Indies in Grenada as they go in search of a series win.
Sussex seamer Robinson has not fully recovered from the back spasm that kept him out of the first two drawn Tests in Antigua and Barbados and now seems certain to miss the series decider that gets underway on Thursday.
The 28-year-old Robinson was unable to reach 100 per cent in a net session on Wednesday and captain Joe Root said afterwards: “Ollie wasn’t as good as we would have liked or he was expecting himself.
“It’s just frustrating for him, as it is for me. He’s working very hard but there’s something that’s nagging away at him.
“I’m not sure exactly of the medical prognosis. He’s just got to keep on doing what he’s doing and trust in time that he’s going to get himself back.
“We all know how effective he has been and how good he’s been in his short career up to now so the sooner we can get him back the better.”
Unlike Robinson, Craig Overton came through training unscathed and is set to regain his place in the side having sat out the Barbados stalemate due to illness.
Somerset seamer Overton looks likely to replace Matthew Fisher, with England’s bowling attack set to be comprised of Overton, all-rounders Ben Stokes and Chris Wakes, fast bowler Saqib Mahmood and spinner Jack Leach.
Uncapped leg-spinner Matt Parkinson’s hopes of a Test debut appear to have been dashed by the fact the Grenada surface looks livelier for seam bowlers than the docile pitches offered up in Antigua and Barbados.
Root added: “I think we’re looking forward to a wicket with a bit more grass on it, as all of our seamers will be. By all accounts that’s what we’re expecting here.”
West Indies and England meet in the third and final Test, in Grenada, from 2pm UK time on Thursday. Follow over-by-over text commentary from 1.45pm on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app.