Geoffrey Boycott has told England opener Sam Robson there is a “huge question mark” against the Australia-born batsman’s international future.

Boycott said Robson needed to become more secure outside off stump while England as a whole had to improve their batting against the short ball if they were to cope with Australia left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson during next year’s Ashes.

Having seen Robson bowled for six shouldering arms at Old Trafford, Boycott – one of England’s greatest opening batsmen – wrote in his Daily Telegraph column yesterday:

“There is a huge question mark over Robson. His judgment on what to play and what to leave around off stump is suspect. He gets out caught in the slip cordon or playing no stroke.”

"The better the new ball bowler, the more balls he will put in the corridor of uncertainty at pace.

"That means off stump and three to four inches outside off stump on a full length. That is a danger area to all batsmen early in their innings.

"Your judgment, technique and footwork have to be spot on especially against a moving, swinging new ball, any flaw will be exposed. Robson has been found wanting too often this summer. 

"But the selectors have already named the same squad for the Oval (where the fifth and final Test against India starts on Friday) so he will get another chance.

"He made a century at Headingley against Sri Lanka and that innings alone has kept him in the team. In fact that century has saved his bacon. Without that hundred in the bank he would have gone by now. 

"I would have picked Adam Lyth of Yorkshire or Michael Carberry of Hampshire by now because I do not think Robson is going to rectify his problems."