As Jonathan Trott took the field after what could prove an international career-ending third-ball duck in the first innings in Barbados, the man he replaced at the top of England’s batting order, Sam Robson, was bringing up a 14th first-class century to see Middlesex take control on day one against Durham at Lord’s.
The Australian-born right-hander, whose much-discussed travails outside off stump led to the end of his partnership with the England captain, Alastair Cook, after seven Tests last summer, helped steer his side to 329 for four at stumps, thanks to a dominant 178 from 300 balls.
There were few signs of that particular technical glitch here, with Robson strong through the off side as 26 fours flowed from the blade, each one bringing into question the decision by the Durham captain, Paul Collingwood, who had lost Graham Onions to a knee injury, to field first.
With a green-tinged pitch and overcast skies above, the theory looked sound. But his attack produced four wickets, and his own drop of Adam Voges on 38 at slip from the unlikely off-spin of Calum MacLeod means the former England man will not look back on the day’s play with fondness.
Robson said: “Personally, it was really satisfying to not only get a hundred but to get a big one as well. I have just got to keep performing. I don’t think of it as [a message to the selectors]. I got left out but that’s how it goes.
“I’m just trying to do well for Middlesex now. If opportunities pop up in six months, a year, two years – that’s out of my control. I’m just trying to score runs and that’s all I’m focusing on. We feel like we are in a good place as a side too. Hopefully we can keep it going.”
A lack of swing did not help the visitors. Robson was untroubled from the outset and found strong support from his fellow England discard Nick Compton in a stand of 113 in 32.5 overs, after the opener Nick Gubbins had been caught at third slip on 23 when ambitiously driving Onions’ understudy, Paul Coughlin.
It was Robson’s first first-class century since scoring 127 against Sri Lanka in his second Test last June, coming in 161 balls courtesy of a dabbed two behind square off Scott Borthwick. The celebrations were understandably controlled, with a raise of the bat and a lifting of the helmet in front of a sparse crowd.
The leg-spinner went on to produce the breakthrough when Compton eschewed the controlled self-denial that had taken him to 50 by chopping on courtesy of an ugly swipe across the line.
Middlesex’s captain, Voges, fresh from successfully chasing 402 in Taunton on Wednesday, made 57 in a third-wicket partnership of 127 that secured the second and third batting points, only to be trapped lbw by Chris Rushworth.
That Robson offered his first chance on 172 was testament to how well he played. While it was Borthwick who dropped him off Coughlin, the third slip made it up to the bowler on the first ball of the penultimate over, meaning the nightwatchman James Harris will resume alongside James Franklin in the morning .
