Australia batting star Steve Smith was made to wait for his first County Championship innings on Thursday as Sussex team-mate Ollie Robinson ran through Worcestershire with seven wickets. The pair are set to be on opposite sides when Australia begin their quest to win a first Ashes series in England since 2001 in June.
But they are colleagues for a few weeks after Sussex signed the former Australia captain for three second division matches — a move that prompted accusations they were helping one of England’s most formidable opponents adjust to local conditions.
Earlier this year Robinson forecast Ben Stokes’ side would give Australia a “good hiding” in the Ashes after England were beaten 4-0 in Australia in 2021/22.
Earlier this week he bowled Smith during a practice session, something the 33-year-old batsman himself admitted “wasn’t ideal” when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday. Smith had another good view, this time from the slips, of Robinson’s ability as the seamer took 7-59 in Worcestershire’s total of 264 all out on the opening day of four at New Road.
Worcestershire, however, recovered from 44-5, with Matthew Waite and Joe Leach sharing a century stand when Robinson was out of the attack.
Robinson, 29, bowled Waite for 59 in his first over back and then combined with Smith to remove Leach for a run-a-ball 53. The visitors reached stumps on 63-1, with Smith listed to bat at number five behind India’s Cheteshwar Pujara, the Sussex captain.
Smith will join up with Australia for their World Test Championship final against India at the Oval next month before the five-match Ashes series starts at Edgbaston.
Source: eNCA
In other news – British musician Ed Sheeran wins US copyright trial
British pop phenom Ed Sheeran did not plagiarize Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s G when composing his 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud,” a US jury ruled Thursday. Sheeran stood up and hugged his team after jurors ruled that he “independently” created his song, according to an AFP reporter inside the Manhattan federal courtroom.
The lawsuit was filed by heirs of Gaye cowriter Ed Townsend, who alleged that harmonic progressions and rhythmic elements of Sheeran’s song were lifted from the classic made famous by Gaye without permission. Learn more
