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Australia are set to lose another talented cricketer to England, with the younger brother of convert Sam Robson indicating he too may choose the Poms over his home country.
Leicestershire batsman Angus Robson underlined his potential with a rapidfire 126 against the touring Indian Test side on the weekend.
Making his innings even more notable was the fact the Indian attack boasted no less than eight specialist bowlers in contention to play in the upcoming Tests against England.
It continued an impressive vein of form which has seen him make 563 runs at 51 in his past six matches for the county side.
While he is yet to register his maiden county century – he only debuted last September – the 22-year-old has been brilliantly consistent for Leicestershire, with eight scores of 46 or higher in his past 14 innings.
Just like his 24-year-old brother Sam, Angus was born in Australia, grew up in Sydney, played under-19 cricket for New South Wales and has dual citizenship thanks to his English mother. And just like England’s new Test opener, Angus is also considering choosing to play for England instead of Australia should he earn the opportunity to make such a choice in the future.
He told media in Britain last week that he hoped one day to be able to select between representing one of the two countries.
“If I keep doing well, which I hope I do, maybe in another few years I might be closer to having to make a decision like that,” Robson said.
“I suppose it’s good I’ve got him (Sam) to talk to if anything like that ever does come up.”
Angus said that his own dream of playing international cricket had been enlivened after watching his brother compile a commanding century in just his second Test, against Sri Lanka last week.
“Absolutely (but) it’s obviously a long way off for me at the moment,” he said. “When you see it at such close distance, it only makes you more determined to do well. Maybe, one day.”
Although, as Angus himself admitted, he remains well shy of pushing for national honours, Australian cricket followers would be justifiably dismayed were they to lose a second Robson to England.
Cricket Australia made a mess of handling Sam Robson and as a result the country has lost a young man who has the tools required to be a fine Test player.
Given the relative dearth of emerging batting talent in the Sheffield Shield, missing out on the older Robson was a stinging blow. His circumspection and admirable patience are tailor made for opening the batting in Tests and he could have been an able foil for the cavalier David Warner once veteran Chris Rogers retires.
It was reported last year that, despite Robson representing Australia at under-19 level, Cricket Australia paid no attention to him until he was almost qualified to play for England.
CA’s belated attempts to entice him back to Australia failed. It remains to be seen whether CA will try to ensure that Angus, too, is not lost to England – that is, if he becomes a player worthy of such attention.
But you would hope they will have taken note of his rollicking century against India.
It hurt Australian cricket followers to see Sam Robson in an England kit. Imagine the reaction were both brothers to defect to the Old Enemy.