Robson focused on Middlesex as England talk grows

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If Sam Robson has set himself targets between now and the end of the season that might earn him a Test recall he’s keeping them to himself.

The 28-year-old is currently averaging nearly 52 for Middlesex in the County Championship this summer and is getting mentioned again as someone to fill one of the slots in England’s misfiring top order for this winter’s Ashes series.

Robson played the last of his seven Tests three years ago before losing his place to Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth, but passed 50 for the fifth time in the Championship this summer against Surrey last week in what was only his seventh game because of an early-season calf injury.

Surrey’s Mark Stoneman is most likely to get the nod as Alastair Cook’s opening partner for the Ashes, but with an England Lions squad shadowing the main party in Australia this winter there is no lack of incentive for Robson to keep churning out the scores.

However, he insists he is focusing only on his form for his county, not a return to the international scene.

“I’ve never been someone who has put it out there that I want to score this amount of runs or reach these targets,” he said.

“There are always variables opening the batting. All I concentrate on when I go out to bat is try and get through the new ball, put in a performance and if they result in wins or whatever then that’s what I am after.

“It’s just about playing well for the rest of the season and try and win a few games for Middlesex. We’ll see what happens after that.”