England have suffered a major blow ahead of the second Test against New Zealand when fast bowler Ollie Robinson was ruled out with a right knee strain.The timing could not have been worse for the 32-year-old pacer, who had dreamed of a return to international cricket in the series opener at Lord’s. Playing his first Test in over two years, Robinson produced a match-winning performance, taking seven wickets, including a spectacular three-wicket burst in his opening over, helping England to a 115-run victory over New Zealand. His efforts earned him the Player of the Match award and marked the beginning of a long-awaited comeback.However, the latest injury setback has once again disrupted Robinson’s momentum and reignited concerns about his fitness and ability to remain available at the highest level for long periods.Seamer’s last Test was against India in Ranchi in February 2024, where he bowled just 13 overs in the entire match and did not bowl in the second innings. Since then, Robinson has worked hard to regain his place in England’s Test set-up, with his recent success at Lord’s all the more encouraging.Despite being ruled out of the second Test, England have confirmed that Robinson will remain with the squad and continue his rehabilitation, with hopes of returning for the third Test starting on June 25 at Trent Bridge.England’s injury and availability concerns are ahead of Robinson. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson are also unavailable while an investigation into an alleged incident at a London nightclub continues, forcing the hosts to consider a number of changes for the upcoming match.The absence of several senior players could open the door for Jofra Archer, who has rejoined the England set-up after completing his IPL commitments. Archer trained with the squad at The Oval over the weekend and is firmly in contention for a return to Test cricket.The second Test between England and New Zealand is set to begin on June 17 at London’s Oval, with the hosts looking to extend their series lead despite a mounting list of selection challenges.
