The former England opener became a Test recall eight years after his fall

Sam Robson made seven Test appearances for England in 2014, scoring a century and averaging 30.54 points. He was joined by fellow Middlesex captain Peter Handscomb to get a recall

Middlesex captain Peter Handscomb believes opener Sam Robson should be considered for a recall in England after he last played Test cricket in 2014.

Robson became the fourth opener England attempted following the retirement of Sir Andrew Strauss in 2012, and received just a short run in the side that lasted seven Tests. Against Sri Lanka and India, Robson scored a hundred and a half centuries and finished the summer with a decent Test average of 30.54.

However, he was dropped for the next series against the West Indies and has not represented England since. In that time England have tested 15 specialist openers (excluding Sir Alastair Cook), with only Joe Denly averaging a slightly higher average than Robson.

Robson, now 32, has much more experience and was the third-best run scorer in the County Championship last year when he hit 1047 runs with a 40.26 average for Middlesex. And after Robson hit a brilliant 149 against Sussex in the final round of the County Championship, Handscomb tipped the opener to earn an international recall.

“I think talks need to be had about Sam Robson playing for England again,” he told the ECB Reporters Network. The team looks like it’s going through a reshuffle and Robbo has been putting it together for three or four years now. We’ve already seen that he can make runs as an opener for England.”

Ahead of the new season, Robson said he would “love to” return to the England Test group. He told the Cricketer: “In the first few years after England I might have thought about it a little too much at times instead of just going out and playing.

“It’s in the back of my mind all the time – I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t – but now it’s not something I really analyze or think about much. I would like to play for England again.

“As long as I’m playing first-class cricket, I will always strive for it, whether a player is 25 or 35. I think you should always keep that in mind.”

Robson also cited the late career resurgences of former Middlesex teammates Chris Rogers and Adam Voges as “inspiration”. Australia remembered Rogers at 35, while Voges made his Test debut at the same age and both were successful.

Rogers added another 24 caps to the only one he earned in 2008 and retired at the age of 37 with 2015 runs at 42.87 and Voges retired with 1485 runs at a 61.87 average after 20 Test appearances return. “Guys like that were a little inspiration,” Robson added.

“Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but seeing guys like that play when they get older gives me a boost. The more you play and the older you get, the better you get to the point where it’s time to call it that day.

“I think that was the case for me, but that doesn’t always mean you get your chance. I feel like I’m in a good place so hopefully I can continue that.”