‘I just got caught up in the moment’ - Ollie Robinson reveals chat with Usman Khawaja following verbal altercation

The first Test of the Ashes 2023 ended heavily in favour of visitors Australia. Defeating England by two wickets, the Pat Cummins-led side is off to a magnificent start to the series. Despite the thrilling run chase, one of the biggest talking points of the game remains the verbal altercation between Ollie Robinson and Usman Khawaja.

Both players were seen involved in an altercation across the two innings, where Robinson verbally abused Khawaja after dismissing him in the first innings, with Khawaja giving him a reply on Day 5 of the match.

Recently, the English pacer came forward to reveal that he had a chat with Khawaja after the spat and said that his actions came in the heat of the moment and that it was nothing personal.

"I didn’t realise the Ussie [Usman Khawaja] send-off was such a big thing until I got off the pitch to find my phone blowing up with mates texting me and it all going off. I just got caught up in the moment. I was desperate for a wicket; I hadn’t bowled that well in the first innings, I’d had that slip in my second over and lost a bit of confidence," Ollie Robinson said in him column for Wisden.

"And then I was trying to feel my way back in a little bit, having not played much for a while. And obviously Ussie was the big wicket, he was playing beautifully. It was nothing against Ussie, it was just one of those things, I got caught up in the moment and let myself go," he added.

I spoke to Ussie after as well: Robinson

Furthermore, Robinson revealed what Khawaja told him after both players had a chat about the altercation. He also gave the example of many legends like Jimmy Anderson, Brett Lee being fired up and letting themselves go in the moment.

"We’ve all seen it with Jimmy [Anderson], Broady, [Glenn] McGrath, Brett Lee. All the bowlers do it when they’re fired up and trying to get a wicket for their team. I spoke to Ussie after as well and we were all good. He was just like, 'Mate, just be careful what you say.' It was nothing against him and we had a good chat. He’s a nice guy and I’ve always gotten on well with him, having played against him a few times," Robinson said.