England vs New Zealand: Mark Wood backs fellow England pacer Ollie Robinson amid racism row

Mark Wood believes his fellow England pacer Ollie Robinson can still do the business in the ongoing first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

Robinson, who made his international debut on Wednesday, almost broke down in front of reporters after tweets he posted 8 years ago resurfaced on social media.

Wood speaking before the start of the second day at Lord’s, told the BBC he hoped Robinson would be able to focus on his cricket.

“Last night was pretty tough for him and the whole team to hear that news,” said Wood.

“But I think he is going to try and concentrate on the cricket today, and get his mind firmly fixed on what is an important morning for us and try to get back in the game. Mentally, if his head’s in that space, I think he can do the business again like he did yesterday,” added Wood.

Robinson bagged two wickets on his England debut against New Zealand. But his encouraging display was overshadowed by the re-emergence of racist and sexist tweets he posted when the Sussex quick was a teenager.

“On the biggest day of my career so far, I am embarrassed by the racist and sexist tweets that I posted over eight years ago, which have today become public,” an emotional Robinson read out his statement, firstly to broadcasters and then to the media.

“I want to make it clear that I’m not racist, and I’m not sexist. I deeply regret my actions, and I am ashamed of making such remarks.

“I was thoughtless and irresponsible, and regardless of my state of mind at the time, my actions were inexcusable. Since that period, I have matured as a person and fully regret the tweets,” he added.

Robinson now faces the prospect of a disciplinary hearing, with England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison insisting the governing body had a ‘zero-tolerance stance to any form of discrimination.’