'I was thoughtless and irresponsible': England paceman Ollie Robinson apologises after old tweets resurface

Debutant insists he is not sexist or racist after opening day of Lord's Test against New Zealand

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  England pacer Ollie Robinson picked up two wickets on debut in the Lord's Test against New Zealand on Wednesday. However, he had to apologise after the day's play after his old tweets resurfaced. Reuters

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  England's Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson at the end of day's play in the first Lord's Test against New Zealand. Reuters

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  Mark Wood of England shares a joke with James Anderson at Lord's. Getty

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  Devon Conway of New Zealand celebrates reaching his century on day one of the first Test against England. Getty

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  New Zealand's Henry Nicholls takes a run. Reuters

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  Devon Conway of New Zealand sweeps during day one of the first Test. Getty

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  Devon Conway scored a century on debut at Lord's. Getty

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  New Zealand's Henry Nicholls holds his ground as England's James Bracey appeals. AP

England fast bowler Ollie Robinson has apologised for historical racist and sexist tweets that came to light as he made his Test debut against New Zealand at Lord's on Wednesday.

Robinson, 27, picked up two wickets but his day turned sour when his tweets from 2012 and 2013 went viral on social media.

"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," he said.

"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."

The England and Wales Cricket Board promised to launch an investigation.

On the field, New Zealand made a superb start to the English summer as Devon Conway became just the sixth batsman to score 100 on Test debut to give the Black Caps the upper hand.

Opener Conway batted for the whole day, with his 136 not out helping New Zealand to reach 246-3 in a match that marked the return of spectators to international cricket in the country.

It was England's first Test in front of a crowd since the 2019 Ashes and the venue capacity was capped at 25 per cent, or about 7,500 spectators a day.

The mood was upbeat as supporters made it to the ground before the start of play.

Many members of the Marylebone Cricket Club were among those in attendance, standing out from the crowd with the striking colours of their club jackets, ties and even face masks.

But England supporters did not have a lot to cheer throughout the day.

With fellow left-hander Henry Nicholls (46 not out), Conway shared an unbroken partnership of 132 after the tourists were in trouble at 114-3 on the first day of the two-match series.

England, without the injured Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, opted for an attack built on four right-arm quick bowlers and no specialist spinner.

The only variety came when captain Joe Root bowled his off-breaks.

Root came close to having Conway stumped by wicketkeeper James Bracey, another England debutant, on 117.

But replays confirmed Conway had dragged his foot back in time.

He was thrust into the action after New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss in what was the Black Caps' first match at Lord's since the Super Over loss to England in the 2019 World Cup final.

But while Williamson and Ross Taylor both fell cheaply, Conway pressed on to a 163-ball century, reaching his ton with a leg-side four.