‘Just the way he plays his cricket’ - Ollie Pope in Ollie Robinson’s defense following pacer's aggressive send-off to Usman Khawaja

There were several talking points from the first Ashes 2023 Test, from Pat Cummins’ explosiveness with the bat to Moeen Ali playing through an injury, the Edgbaston Test did not fail to disappoint. However, nothing was talked about more than Ollie Robinson’s aggressive send-off to Usman Khawaja on Day 3 of the first Test. 

Robinson sledged Khawaja after dismissing him in the first innings, which attracted a truckload of controversy. Both players were involved in a verbal altercation throughout the game and their heated argument caught headlines all across the globe. 

For his behaviour, Robinson invited a lot of heat from former legends and pundits. However, English batter Ollie Pope came forward in the pacer’s defense and opined that the sledging was nothing personal and was just how Robinson plays his cricket. 

"I think Ollie is the kind of guy who gets in the battle. And sometimes, I think, in a big series like this, emotions almost take over while you're on the pitch. But he's a top guy, and I think in an Ashes series, these things are really brought to light," Ollie Pope was quoted as saying by India Today.

"In the heat of the moment, obviously he was pumped up to get that wicket, and it's nothing personal in the way that he's gone about it. That's just the way he plays his cricket," he added.

Hopefully, he can let the ball do all the talking: Pope

Furthermore, Pope also heaped praise on Robinson, as he stated that he was hopeful that the pacer would let the ball do the talking in the second Ashes Test at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

"I don't know, I've not asked him. But if he can get on a good run, hopefully, he can celebrate in the way he wants to celebrate. But he's just going to go about his business in the way he does. He's a high-quality bowler, so hopefully he can let the ball do all the talking," Pope concluded.