In-form Sam Robson wants to play for England in the future – but for now he is concentrating on cementing his place in the Middlesex side.

The Australian-born opening batsman has been one of the star performers in Middlesex’s County Championship campaign to date and hit an unbeaten 94 to secure their six-wicket victory over Surrey last weekend.

Robson comfortably heads the county batting averages with a healthy 85.20 and has scored more runs in the County Championship this season than any other Middlesex batsman bar Chris Rogers.

The 22-year-old, whose mother is English, will qualify for his adopted country in 2014 and acknowledged: “Everyone, eventually, would love to play international cricket if an opportunity came up.

“As corny as it may sound, I’m just trying to improve, and that’s why I love playing over here – you play so much cricket and it’s a good place to learn.

“Of course I’d love to play international cricket one day but at the moment, I’m just trying to get better and play more often for Middlesex.”

Middlesex were grateful for Robson’s inclusion at Guildford as the opener kept a calm head to steer them to a tricky target of 189 on the final day and maintain their push for promotion from Division Two.

The result ensured that Middlesex retained second place in the table and closed the gap on leaders Northamptonshire, who could only manage a draw against Derbyshire, to 18 points.

Derbyshire are Middlesex’s next opponents with back-to-back matches at Lord’s in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition on Thursday (3.40pm) and then a County Championship clash beginning on Friday.