England bowler Ollie Robinson feared he would NEVER play cricket again after ‘toughest 12 months’

England bowler Ollie Robinson feared he would never play cricket again after facing the ‘toughest 12 months’ of his career, after former bowling coach Jon Lewis told him to improve his fitness.

Robinson only played two first-class matches between and the end of July due to a recurring back problem he suffered from.

The 29-year-old was even forced to undergo five injections before returning to the England squad for their second Test against South Africa in August.

Ollie Robinson has revealed that he feared he would never play cricket again after his injury struggles.

Robinson has made a sensational return to Test cricket, taking 20 wickets in his last four games.

Robinson has openly shared his frustration with getting back to full fitness before suffering injuries or illness that made any comeback difficult.

“There were times when I didn’t think I would play for England again or play cricket again,” he said. bbc sport.

“I thought: ‘Maybe I have to see what else I can do here, I don’t think I can continue to play cricket.’

Since his return, the prolific fast bowler has taken 20 wickets in just four Tests, including eight during England’s tour of Pakistan, where Ben Stokes’ formidable side hold an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

England’s series win is the first time they have beaten Pakistan away from home in 22 years.

Robinson and company hope they can clear that up when the third test begins on Saturday in Karachi.

If England continues to win, they would be the first team to beat Pakistan 3-0 at home.

He admitted that the last 12 months were the toughest of his career thanks to injuries and illnesses

Former England bowling coach Jon Lewis said Ollie Robinson had to work on his fitness in January.

In January, England’s bowling coach at the time, Jon Lewis, told Robinson that he “must improve” his fitness if he is to have a long future in the Test.

‘Ollie has to understand what it takes to play all year round international cricket. There is a higher intensity in Test cricket,’ he said at the time. “It’s definitely something he needs to work on.”

But Robinson has so far muted criticism despite enduring what he described as the “toughest 12 months” of his career.

Added Robinson: “It’s been tough and there have been some dark days, but series wins like this make it all worth it.”

A difficult year for Robinson follows a tumultuous 12 months earlier in which the bowler was handed an eight-match ban and a £3,200 fine following an ECB investigation into historic offensive tweets.

Having been suspended by England for the ‘number of offensive tweets’, he was free to play cricket again immediately after the panel’s decision.