Robinson ready to put in hard work after dream return

Ollie Robinson says his dream return to the England Test team has come after rediscovering his "love of the game" in recent months.

The 32-year-old seamer took three wickets in his first over against New Zealand at Lord's, before ending day one with figures of 4-10 in a stunning comeback more than two years since his last Test.

But having ensured England finished the first day of the series opener in a strong position, despite being bowled out for 140, Robinson knows there is much still to do to ensure his latest stint in international cricket is a success.

"I'm so speechless about how it's gone - I couldn't have dreamt up that day," he told BBC Test Match Special.

"When we lost the toss and got stuck in, we were hoping to be batting all day. It obviously didn't go our way but to come out with the ball as a collective, we were right on it from ball one.

"It's been such a special day, I have no words."

After striking with just his third ball, Robinson's performance on a seaming pitch left England fans wondering what might have been had he played during the winter's Ashes series.

While Australia produced a number of bowler-friendly pitches, an England attack built to exploit the pace and bounce of more traditional Australian surfaces failed to take full advantage.

"I was nowhere near ready to play or anywhere near where I am now as a person and a cricketer," Robinson said of missing the Ashes.

"It's only been the last few months that I've got the enjoyment back for the game and knuckled down a bit more.

"I went to Australia in the winter and played some grade cricket and just got the love of the game back really and, yeah, the wickets might have suited me but I wasn't ready to play.

"There was a lot of hard work that still needed to be done for me to get back in."

When Robinson was dropped from the England squad following the tour of India in 2024, he boasted an impressive bowling average of 22.92.

However, concerns over both his fitness throughout spells and his attitude were deemed enough to outweigh his obvious talent as a new-ball bowler.

A 27-month absence from international cricket followed before his fine start to the county season, after taking on the responsibility of captaining Sussex, earned him a recall.

"I don't think I'm a different bowler," Robinson added. "I think I've put a lot of work over the last couple of months to get back to the bowler I almost want to be.

"I'm not quite there - there's still a lot of hard work to do and put in, but I think like people have said my skills have never really been in doubt. It's more the fitness and the other things.

"When I got the call from [Rob Key, managing director of England men's cricket] and the text from [head coach Brendon McCullum], I knew that I had a lot of hard work to put in.

"That's what I've tried to do over the last few months. And like I said, I'm not the finished article by no means.

"But those sort of sessions there definitely make it all worthwhile."

New Zealand will resume on 61-6 on day two, still trailing England by 79, with a determined Robinson ready to lead the charge as the hosts aim to secure a healthy first-innings lead.

"Stokesy said to me last week 'great to have you back, but just know the hard work's still to be done', and that's what's constantly in my head at the moment," Robinson said.

"These days are what you play for. But, like I said, I've still got a lot of work to do, and it's just great to put the England shirt back on and be here."