Robson’s England pledge was the ‘easy’ option, says childhood pal Warner

Taking a stance: Robson has decided to play for his adopted country (Getty Images)

David Warner believes Sam Robson has taken the easy option by pledging his allegiance to England rather than Australia.

The openers grew up together in the Sydney district of Paddington, where they both played for the Eastern Suburbs club.

While Warner has gone on to establish himself as Australia’s most destructive opening batsmen since Matthew Hayden, Robson has committed his future to England.

The 24-year-old Robson, whose mother is from Nottingham, moved to London in 2008 after being spotted by Middlesex and made the decision to represent his adopted country instead of Australia late last year.

Robson, who scored five centuries for England Lions in the winter while the senior team were thrashed 5-0 in the Ashes, has been rewarded with a call-up for next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. “I’ve played a lot of grade cricket with Sam,” said Warner. “He played at my old club Eastern Suburbs and I know he’ll do a fantastic job for England.

“It was obviously disappointing he didn’t stay as an Australian but I think he feels he had a better chance of playing international cricket with England than he did back at home.”

If Robson establishes himself as England captain Alastair Cook’s opening partner, he is likely to face his childhood friend in next summer’s Ashes series.

“It will be quite interesting and funny,” said Warner. “It will be good to see who his parents support because Jungle Jim, his father, runs our New South Wales Indoor Centre and I know how much of a big supporter of Australian cricket he is.” Another of Robson’s former Sydney club-mates, Brad Haddin, joked: “He sounded pretty Aussie last time I saw him.”