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England call up Henry Crocombe as Ollie Robinson cover

Ali Naseer · 13/06/2026 · 2 min read

England Call Up Henry Crocombe as Ollie Robinson Cover

England’s disrupted build-up to the second Test against New Zealand, which begins at The Oval on Wednesday, has continued with news that Ollie Robinson will undergo a scan on knee soreness.

England are already without Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson due to disciplinary reasons and could now lose the services of Robinson, who led the attack at Lord’s on his return to Test cricket after two years out of the side, taking career-best match figures of 7 for 77.

Henry Crocombe Called Up as Cover

Robinson’s Sussex team-mate Henry Crocombe, who is uncapped but has featured regularly in recent Lions squads, has been called up as cover. Crocombe is currently involved in Sussex’s game against Glamorgan at Hove, picking up 2 for 41 in the first innings. Overall, he has 21 Division One wickets at 28.61 this season, as well as taking 4 for 65 in the Lions’ first unofficial Test against South Africa A earlier this month.

After Stokes and Atkinson, who also took a seven-wicket haul in the first Test, were made unavailable for selection, England recalled Jofra Archer to their 15, following Archer’s involvement in the IPL. They also have Matthew Fisher and Sonny Baker as seam-bowling options in the group.

Precautionary Scan for Ollie Robinson

Robinson experienced knee soreness after a training session and is set to undergo a precautionary scan. England said in a statement: “Uncapped seamer Henry Crocombe has been called into the England Men’s Test squad as cover for Ollie Robinson.”

Crocombe’s call-up highlights England’s cautious approach to the upcoming Test, ensuring they have adequate cover in case Robinson is unable to play. With the team already missing key players, the addition of Crocombe provides a welcome boost to their seam-bowling options.

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Ali Naseer

Ali Naseer is a senior sports correspondent for The News International, known for his authoritative coverage of Pakistan cricket and his razor‑sharp technical analysis. A graduate of the University of Karachi, he began his career documenting club cricket in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Northern Areas, bringing to light the raw fast‑bowling talent that has become Pakistan’s hallmark. Ali’s work now spans global ICC tournaments and every edition of the Pakistan Super League, where he is a familiar face in the press box. He combines an intimate knowledge of the domestic structure with an ability to break down high‑pressure match situations for a national readership. His columns on the art of reverse swing and the history of Pakistani pace bowlers have become essential reading for fans. Twice honoured by the APNS and his own paper, Ali remains dedicated to telling the stories of the players and places that keep Pakistan cricket alive.