Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has told cricket chiefs they went “over the top” by suspending Ollie Robinson.

The fast bowler is back with Sussex pending an investigation into offensive tweets he sent in 2012 and 2013.

He will miss England’s second Test against New Zealand, despite an impressive debut at Lord’s.

But he is available to play for Sussex under the terms of his suspension.

Now Dowden has accused the ECB of an over-reaction and hinted that Robinson should be recalled to the England squad.

SUSSEX TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SELECT OLLIE ROBINSON

He said: "Ollie Robinson's tweets were offensive and wrong.

"They are also a decade old and written by a teenager.

"The teenager is now a man and has rightly apologised. The ECB has gone over the top by suspending him and should think again."