England suspend Robinson pending racism probe
Ollie Robinson can miss up coming week's second Check against New Zealand in Edgbaston after getting suspended from all international cricket pending an investigation into racist and sexist Twitter messages, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Sunday.
Sussex quick Robinson made an impressive on-field England debut found in the drawn first Check in Lord's concluded Sunday.
But his efforts with bat and ball were overshadowed by the re-emergence of racist and sexist social media messages the 27-year-old had posted as an adolescent in 2012 and 2013.
"England and Sussex bowler Ollie Robinson features been suspended from all international cricket pending the results of a disciplinary investigation following historic tweets he posted found in 2012 and 2013," said an ECB statement.
"He will not really be accessible for selection for the LV= Insurance second Test against New Zealand starting at Edgbaston on Thursday 10 June.
"Robinson will keep the England camp immediately and return to his county," it added.
The paceman led England's attack with 4-75 in the first innings at Lord's and followed up with 3-26 in the next while among making a useful 42 with the bat.
But he found himself building an unreserved apology after stumps on Wednesday, his first evening in Check cricket, for tweets that included responses suggesting Muslim persons were associated with terrorism, and derogatory remarks about women and persons of Asian heritage.
His messages re-emerged after both clubs lined up before take up on Wednesday for a 'Moment of Unity' made to display their opposition to discrimination, with England using T-shirts stating 'Cricket is a game for everyone'.
Robinson, in a declaration issued after take up on Wednesday, said he was "embarrassed" and "ashamed" by the posts.
"I want to inform you that I'm not racist and I'm not sexist," he added.
England captain Joe Root speaking after stumps on Sunday but before Robinson's suspension have been announced, said of the tweets: "I couldn't believe them, personally."
Root, nevertheless, added Robinson had displayed a "large amount of remorse" that was "very genuine".
- 'Exceptional debut' -
Turning to Robinson's primary match as a Check cricketer, on the line of business by Lord's, the skipper stated: "He has had a fantastic debut...He's showed huge degrees of skill and he's absolutely got the game which can be successful in Check cricket."
Root, however, insisted: "With regards to the products that's happened off the field, it's not acceptable within our game. We all know that."
As for ideas that the ECB must have investigated Robinson's social media history ahead of his England debut, Root said: "We can look rear about how precisely this could have been handled better, however the simple truth is it shouldn't have took place.
"And if we always keep trying to better the overall game at this time, then in years to come this shouldn't be an issue.
"We've got to go forward from this, study from this and carry out everything we are able to to get sure it generally does not happen again."
Robinson has a separate employment agreement with Sussex so he's free to play, if selected, for the south coastline county during his international suspension.
