Confident Nick Gubbins believes he has the ability to bat anywhere down the Middlesex order once Sam Robson returns from international duty.

With Robson rested following his England exertions, Gubbins made his County Championship debut in this week's draw against Northants, opening with skipper Chris Rogers.

The 20 year old left hander from Richmond showed few signs of nerves as he struck a first innings half century, as Middlesex piled up an ultimately fruitless 488 runs.

With Robson back in the England squad for the visit of India to Trent Bridge on Wednesday, it is likely Gubbins will find himself at the top of the team sheet once more on Monday when Middlesex begin their game against Somerset at Uxbridge.

Sam the man: Sam Robson's England call-up has given Gubbins his chance with MIddlesex

But in the long term, when Robson inevitably claims his opening place back alongside Rogers, Gubbins has set his sights on a regular place in the Seaxes line up regardless.

He said: “I hope I've done enough to keep my place next week. When Sam is back from England duty I would expect him to take his place back, but I will putting my case forward to bat further down.

“I will bat wherever needed. I feel I have the technique to bat anywhere, and I used to bat at three or four at U17 level. It was only really when I was told I had the right technique to open that I started to play there.”

Gubbins, who still has a year of studies left at Leeds Bradford MCCU, certainly has all the right credentials to make it at Lord's.

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Before going to university in Yorkshire, he attended the Radley College in Oxfordshire, where fellow former pupils include ex-Middlesex captains Andrew Strauss and Ben Hutton.

Gubbins said: “Andrew Strauss is my cricketing hero as I grew up watching him play test cricket, and he's a Radley lad too. It has been really good to bat with Chris Rogers as well, I can learn a lot from him.

“For my first run I nearly ran Chris out, which would have been a worst start to a debut ever. Fortunately I went on to get a good score, but it was mixed emotions. I felt I should have gone on and got a better one but gave my wicket away softly and cheaply. I learned the hard yards of first class cricket.”

There were also mixed emotions for Middlesex, who pummelled bottom side Northants for most of the game, but ultimately became the first side this season not to beat them in the Championship.

Risky business: Chris Rogers has been criticised for declaring late against Northants

Rogers, perhaps mindful of his declaration at Nottingham, where Middlesex were 384 in front but still lost, waited until after lunch on the final day to declare, allowing Northants to bat out for a draw.           

Gubbins added: “It was frustrating as we went into the game expecting to win, and we played good cricket for 90 per cent of the game, apart from one session where Steven Crook was smashing it all over the place.

“It was a slow wicket which it was tough to extract batsmen from, making it relatively easy to bat the game out. You can't fault the bowlers, the pitch had been baked.

“They say winning is a habit and so is losing. We took the safer option, but taking the risky one could have come back to bite us. You would have to have risked losing that game to win it.”