England suffered a major blow when Ollie Robinson was ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand

Englishman Ollie Robinson. (AP photo) England suffered a major blow ahead of the second Test against New Zealand after fast bowler Ollie Robinson was ruled out with right knee pain.The timing could hardly have been worse for the 32-year-old pacer, who enjoyed a dream return to international cricket in the series opener at Lord’s. Robinson, playing his first Test in more than two years, produced a match-winning performance as he claimed seven wickets, including a stunning three-wicket burst in the opener, to help England secure a 115-run victory over New Zealand. His efforts earned him the Player of the Match award and seemed to mark the start of a long-awaited comeback.However, the latest injury setback has once again interrupted Robinson’s momentum and rekindled concerns about his fitness and ability to remain available for extended periods at the highest level.His previous Test appearance came against India in Ranchi in February 2024, where he managed just 13 overs during the match and failed in the second innings. Since then, Robinson has worked hard to regain his place in the England Test set-up, and his recent success at Lord’s is all the more encouraging.Despite being ruled out of the second Test, England have confirmed that Robinson will remain with the squad and continue his rehabilitation, with the hope of returning for the third Test at Trent Bridge starting on 25 June.England’s injury and availability concerns extend beyond Robinson. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson are also unavailable while the investigation into the alleged incident at a London nightclub continues, forcing the hosts to consider several changes for the upcoming match.The absence of several senior players could open the door for Jofro Archer to return to the England set-up after completing his IPL commitments. Archer trained with the squad at The Oval at the weekend and is firmly aiming to return to Test cricket.The second Test between England and New Zealand is set to begin on June 17 at The Oval in London, with the hosts looking to extend their series lead despite a growing list of selection challenges.