By India Today Sports Desk: England pacer Ollie Robinson said he’s hopeful that they can bat through Day 4. England ended Day 3 at 28 for 2, taking a slender 35-run lead over Australia in the first Ashes 2023 Test at Edgbaston.
Speaking to the BBC after the end of play on Day 3, Robinson said if England can score over 300 runs they will be right in the game, adding that they are hoping to bat all day tomorrow. England put up 28 for 2 on the scoreboard in their second innings before rain stopped play on Day 3.
“It was sort of the first time the pitch came out a little bit in three days. The lights and overhead gave it a bit of nip and carry. If we carried on batting, it might have been a slightly different approach, but still positive. I think anything over 300, we are right in the game. Hopefully we can get the ball moving and bat all day tomorrow,” said Robinson.
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Speaking about Australia opener Usman Khawaja’s dismissal, Robinson said he was trying to get Khawaja to play shots that he’s not comfortable with. Robinson cleaned up Khawaja in the 113th over after the opener had scored 141 runs off 321 balls in Australia’s first innings at Edgbaston.
“I was trying to get him to play shots he’s not comfortable with. Before the ball, [Ben Stokes] said go back to Rawalpindi and Pakistan and the umbrella field. I've been practicing a bit of T20 recently, went to the yorker and it came off. You have to be ready for all formats and it was great that it came off in Test cricket,” Robinson added.
Having bowled Australia out for 386 runs on Day 3, England got off to a positive start in their second innings before rain interrupted play. Following the break in play, Australia made the most of the overcast conditions and picked two quick wickets before rain came pouring down once again, stopping the play once and for all on Day 3.