Not James Anderson or Stuart Broad: Ollie Robinson became the first bowler in England’s 149-year Test history to…

Emilio Gay catches Kane Williamson over the ball by Ollie Robinson during the first day of the first Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 4, 2026 in London, England. (Photo/Getty Images) England pacer Ollie Robinson set a Test cricket record by becoming the first England bowler to take three wickets in the opening innings to help New Zealand retire at 61/6 on a dramatic opening day of the first Test at Lord’s on Thursday.Robinson, playing his first Test since February 2024, finished the day with figures of 4/10 from six overs as New Zealand finished the day still behind England’s first innings total of 140.The conditions strongly favored the fast bowlers throughout the day. There was no spin bowling.England’s batting line-up had earlier collapsed for 140 in 39.4 overs, but Robinson turned the game around immediately after taking the new ball.With the third, fifth and sixth deliveries of his spell, Robinson dismissed Devon Conway, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra. Conway was trapped lbw, Williamson lobbed a catch at short leg and Ravindra was also dismissed lbw.“It feels a bit surreal, I couldn’t have dreamed I’d come back,” Robinson told Sky Sports television. “It was so loud. I was a little dazed and just trying to focus. The crowd was amazing, one of the loudest I’ve heard here.The performance was capped off by a remarkable comeback from the Sussex skipper. Around Christmas, Robinson believed his England career was over. He was left out in 2024 due to fitness and attitude concerns despite taking 76 wickets in 20 Tests.

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After England’s 4–1 Ashes defeat in Australia, head coach Brendon McCullum contacted Robinson at the start of the season and told him he was back in contention. Robinson responded by taking 18 wickets in the ongoing County Championship.With Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse unavailable for the opening Test, Robinson was handed the new ball and delivered immediately.“I was in a place where I never thought I would play for England again,” he said. “Getting the text from Baz (McCullum) changed my mindset. To get back into the team, I knew the date of the first day of the Test and there was a lot of work. I tried my best to get back in shape for today. I know I have a lot of hard work ahead of me.”At stumps, Robinson bowled six overs, including three maidens, and helped put England in control.His performance also placed him alongside a small group of bowlers in Test history who have taken three wickets in their first innings, according to a News18 report. Only six players had achieved the milestone before Robinson, but no English bowler had ever done it.The first player to do so was former Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Zoysa against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1999.Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan equaled that in 2006 against Pakistan in Karachi when he dismissed Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf right in the opening overs.Other bowlers to take three wickets in their first Test innings are Daniel Vettori, Haris Sohail, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.