Ollie Robinson has been ruled out of England’s second Test against New Zealand due to soreness in his right knee.
Robinson took seven wickets in the first Test at Lord’s after returning to the England Test set-up for the first time in over two years.
England have called up uncapped seamer Henry Crocombe as cover, with the second Test starting at The Kia Oval on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports.
Robinson’s absence, though, represents another blow to an England attack already without captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson – both of whom were dropped for the second Test after breaching the England team’s new midnight curfew and being at a nightclub when an altercation took place with a Saracens rugby player.
Robinson and Atkinson, between them, took 14 of England’s 20 wickets at Lord’s so there’s plenty of thinking to do for head coach Brendon McCullum, who will speak to the media on Monday for the first time since the Stokes incident.
England’s pace attack will likely be spearheaded by the returning Jofra Archer – who himself has been a doubt after missing the first Test due to IPL duties – with Josh Tongue, Matt Fisher and Sonny Baker the other fast bowlers at their disposal.
Crocombe called up as cover following impressive season for Sussex
Crocombe, 24, has enjoyed an impressive season for Sussex in the County Championship, taking 21 wickets with a season-best 9-69 across two innings against Leicestershire.
The fast bowler has also been praised by head coach McCullum in response to questions over the availability of Archer for the three-Test series.
Henry Crocombe has taken 21 wickets in the County Championship Division One
“You’ve got a multitude of players who are developing through the county system and through the Lions who are on our radar,” McCullum said in a press conference after England’s victory at Lord’s.
“There is some exciting talent: [Henry] Crocombe, Nav Sharma, Eddie Jack. These guys are all in the system and identified.
“Now, we’ve just got to make sure we’re upskilling them so if the opportunity arises in the years to come, they’re ready to step in and perform. It’s a good place to be when you have a battery of fast bowlers you can call on.”
Crocombe is an England Lions regular and took 1-23 last week in the third ODI against South Africa A.
Stokes trains at Riverside
Ben Stokes trained with Durham on Saturday
Stokes was back in Durham on Saturday and trained during day two of his county’s Championship game against Derbyshire at the Riverside.
No long-term decision has been made on Stokes’ captaincy as the England and Wales Cricket Board continues to look into the events of the last week, although Sky Sports News understands fears over his position have cooled.
In the meantime, the all-rounder kept his fitness ticking over at Chester-le-Street with a batting session in the nets and a bowl in the middle.
England vs New Zealand – results and schedule
All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports
First Test (Lord’s) – England won by 115 runsSecond Test (The Kia Oval) – June 17-21 (11am)Third Test (Trent Bridge) – June 25-29 (11am)
Watch the second Test of the England vs New Zealand series live on Sky Sports from June 17.
