Michael Carberry is hopeful of a recall to the England Test team after Andrew Strauss' retirement left a vacancy at the top of the order.
Hampshire left-hander hopes experience will give him the edge
Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry remains hopeful of a recall to the England Test team after Andrew Strauss' retirement left a vacancy to fill at the top of the order.
Strauss quit all forms of professional cricket last month, bringing to an end a 100-Test career, which ended in a series defeat at the hands of South Africa.
Alastair Cook has since been appointed as England Test skipper, however the selectors are yet to pinpoint an opening partner for the left-hander ahead of the series against India later this year.
Carberry, who earned one Test cap on the 2010 tour of Bangladesh, is among the favourites to fill the void, despite averaging just 28.85 for the Royals in 16 first-class matches in 2012.
Competition
He told
ESPNCricinfo: "There has been a lot of speculation over the last couple of weeks, ever since a certain Mr Strauss decided to retire.
"I'm flattered that my name has come back around for that opening spot. I've played pretty well in the last few years and I've kept my performances to a high standard, so I'm glad I'm back in the melting pot."
Carberry, 31, faces stiff competition from up-and-coming Yorkshireman Joe Root for the opening berth vacated by Strauss.
The right-handed Root has scored 736 runs, including a highest score of 222 not out, at the superb average of 49.06 in the County Championship, and recently enjoyed public support from former England captain Michael Vaughan and Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who coaches the 21-year-old at Yorkshire.
"England will probably be looking at all options. I'm two years older and probably at that stage where people will ask: do you take a 32-year-old? Hopefully they will, based on experience," added Carberry.
"But whoever gets the nod then the best of luck to them. And if it is me who misses out then at least I can look back and say I've achieved something I set out to do as a kid - and I've still got a lot to achieve in my career with Hampshire.
"I've had to make peace with a lot of things - and one of those things is that I might finish with one Test cap. I would be a bit of a difficult pill to swallow but you learn to deal with these things."
