Saturday 4 October 2014 18:29, UK
Middlesex batsman Sam Robson insists his England ambitions remain undimmed after missing out on a central contract.
Having opened England's innings in all seven summer Tests, the 25-year-old was overlooked for a lucrative 12-month central deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board awarding contracts to six stars for the first time.
Getting picked for England in the first place was a massive honour, and to have success personally with a hundred in my second Test as well as winning the series against India, it was just incredible.
Australia-born Robson said: "It's not a problem or a limit at all: I know what I've got to do. There's a Lions tour to South Africa in January, so if I'm selected on that, with no Test cricket for the next six or seven months, hopefully I could score some runs and put in some strong performances.
"Then we can go from there. It's just been a great summer for me to play all seven Tests and to feel comfortable in the environment. And to win against India was massive, and I'm looking forward to kicking on."
Robson fired 127 in his second Test against Sri Lanka in June, making good on the rich potential that had him widely tipped for a breakthrough international season.
England's selectors worked hard to convince Robson to turn his back on his native Australia, much to the chagrin of Middlesex team-mate Chris Rogers.
With the ECB opting to hand out new terms to Moeen Ali, Gary Ballance, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes, Robson is desperate to impress during the winter as England's one-day World Cup focus leaves Test cricket on the backburner.
On his omission from the senior squad, Robson added: "I haven't really thought too much about it. At the end of the day I've just got to try to keep scoring runs.
"It doesn't matter what the situation is, that's your job and that's what I've got to try and do. It's a good chance now, it's been a big season, to have a couple of months off and recharge the batteries and go again. Hopefully I can put a few good performances on the board in the winter and then go again.
"Getting picked for England in the first place was a massive honour, and to have success personally with a hundred in my second Test as well as winning the series against India, it was just incredible.
"So it's been a great year all-round, a huge progression and breakthrough. It's been an unbelievable 12 months really, and it's a time of my life I'll look back on very fondly in years to come."
England seamer Stuart Broad meanwhile believes he will return from knee surgery "stronger and fitter" and is confident he will be fit for England's one-day tri-series in Australia in January, after undergoing surgery to repair a patella tendon problem.
The 28-year-old said: "I'm hoping to maybe get on a camp pre-Christmas with the Lions potentially, then January 6 is my aim to get on that flight.
"The hard work starts now really, the more weights I can lift, the bigger I can make my leg, and the stronger I can get, the less sore it will be. I'm really confident I'll get back fit. I've got no doubt that I'll come back stronger and fitter."
