English Baker Ollie Robinson He now holds the best bowling average among all bowlers with at least 20 Tests over the last 112 years of Test cricket, surpassing India’s Jasprit Bumrah by four wickets in Pakistan’s second innings at Lord’s on 30 August 2026.
Robinson’s career figures stand at 19.53 from 23 Tests, 43 innings and 99 wickets, with best figures of 5/39. Bumrah’s previous standard was 19.79, accumulated across 52 Tests and 234 wickets with best figures of 6/27. Robinson has crossed that mark having played less than half the number of Tests.
At Lord’s, Robinson returned with impressive figures of 4/24 in Pakistan’s second innings, taking his match tally to 8/35. His spell broke up a 97-year-old partnership between Saud Shakeel and Shaan Masood which had given Pakistan real hope of a comeback. Masood, who contributed 26 in this situation, was dismissed by Robinson and the wicket-keeper. Muhammad Radwan Only 1 followed. Shaquille top-scored the innings with 78, his second half-century of the series, but Robinson’s intervention proved decisive.
How does Robinson’s average compare to the all-time greats?
The 112-year qualifier puts Robinson’s record of 19.53 in a category of historical significance. Among bowlers with at least 20 Tests, the four superior averages recorded all belong to cricketers from the late 19th or early 20th century: W Barnes at 15.54 from 21 Tests, SF Barnes at 16.43 from 27 Tests, R Bell at 16.98 from 20 Tests and G Briggs at 17.75 from 33 Tests. No modern-era player has matched any of those numbers, making Robinson’s feat the best of the past 112 years.
Robinson is also one wicket away from reaching 100 Test wickets.
What is the match mode in Lords?
England scored 290 runs in the first innings, and Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in reply, admitting a first innings deficit of 180 runs. England then declared or were bowled out for 208 in their second innings, setting Pakistan a target of 389 to win.
Pakistan’s second innings stood at 140/5 at tea on the fourth day, with the visitors needing another 253 runs. Robinson’s four-wicket blast took Pakistan from recovery mode to one of great difficulty.
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