Robson’s England chances boosted with unbeaten century

Sam Robson has thrown his name into the hat for England selection with an innings of 163 for Middlesex in their County Championship Division 1 clash with Nottinghamshire.

After a winter in which England lost 5-0 against Australia places are up for grabs and Robson, an Australian-born opener, enhanced his prospects of joining Alastair Cook at the top of the order.

Alongside Eoin Morgan, who hit his highest first class score since 2011, the 24-year-old, who is evens to start the 1st Test of the summer against Sri Lanka, added 203 in 53 overs in a partnership we could see at Lord’s for England in June.

It was a good day for Alastair Cook as well as he showed a timely reminder of his own class by scoring 181 for Essex against Derbyshire.

The England captain struggled for form during the Ashes campaign averaging just 24 runs during the series but his 45th first class century ended a run of 21 innings without reaching three figures.

An additional bonus for the captain is the return to form of another of his batsmen with Ian Bell also cashing in with an unbeaten century.

The Warwickshire man bounced back from a fourth ball duck in the first innings to score 189 not out at the second time of asking against early pace setters Sussex.

It was not such good news for Jonathan Trott and Michael Carberry who both failed to capitalise on getting starts against Sussex and Gloucestershire respectively.

Trott, who is hoping to make an England comeback after leaving the tour of Australia, was dismissed by another Test hopeful in Chris Jordan for 26, while Carberry who played in all five Tests Down Under reached 27 before edging behind at the Ageas Bowl.

But there is still plenty of time left to impress the selectors with England’s summer getting underway with a one-day international against Scotland before Sri Lanka and India tour.

Cook’s men, who are still without a full-time coach, face their first Test since the Ashes against the Sri Lankans at Lords on June 12 and they are 4/9 with Ladbrokes to win the series.

England are 8/13 to win the 1st Test against Sri Lanka, while the tourists are 5/1 with the draw at Lords available at 9/4 with the bookmaker.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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