Usman Khawaja and Ollie Robinson were involved in a tense exchange at drinks in the first session of the final day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, following a send-off from Robinson to Khawaja earlier in the game.
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With Khawaja looking to drag Australia to their target of 281 on the fifth day, he and Robinson exchanged words at drinks. The final over before the break had been bowled by Robinson, with its last ball full but left alone by Khawaja.
“Freebie, isn’t it?” Robinson said. “Half volley, field up?”
“In the rough mate,” responded Khawaja. “That’s why you’re not a batsman.”
“Nice to see you say something,” came Robinson’s response.
“Be careful what you say, mate,” said Khawaja.
Stump mic is picking up some chat out in the middle.. 😬#BBCCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/VB0OSTP1eC
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) June 20, 2023
The pair exchanged a few further words, but had walked out of earshot of the stump microphone. Robinson was then shepherded away from the Australian batting pair by James Anderson.
According to reporters at the ground, umpire Marais Erasmus then spoke to Robinson, with Khawaja receiving a friendly pat on the back from Robinson before play resumed.
Decent amount of back and forth between Robinson and Khawaja going into that drinks break. Didn’t look all that friendly initially, but after a drink they were both smiling again and Khawaja got a pat on the back from Robinson #Ashes
— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) June 20, 2023
Bit more (probably one-sided) chat between Ollie Robinson and Usman Khawaja before drinks. Jimmy Anderson an unlikely peacemaker, then Marais Erasmus had a word with Robinson during the break
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) June 20, 2023
Earlier in the Test, Robinson appeared to shout “f*** off, you f***ing p***k” at Khawaja after bowling him on day three, and defended his reaction at stumps.
“I think when you’re in the heat of the moment and you have the passion of the Ashes, that can happen,” he said. “We’ve all seen Ricky Ponting, other Aussies do the same to us. Just because the shoe is on the other foot, it’s not received well. I don’t really care how it’s perceived, to be honest. It’s the Ashes. It’s professional sport. If you can’t handle that, what can you handle?”
While Robinson came in for criticism, especially in the Australian media, for the celebration, Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey stated that the moment hadn’t been noted in the away camp. “I didn’t see it at all,” Carey said. “Usman hasn’t said anything. It’s an Ashes – at times it’s going to be pretty exciting and hostile cricket, but I actually was sitting there disappointed at getting out and didn’t see anything over the top there. From our dressing-room, there was no comment.”
