Australian-born England opener Sam Robson says being sledged in an Ashes series would be music to his ears as he aims to revive his Test career.
The 27-year-old Sydneysider holds a British passport through his English-born mother but declared for England in 2013 despite having represented Australia in the under-19s.
After struggling to break into a powerful NSW side Robson moved to London in 2008 to play for Middlesex and made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2014.
Although he scored a century in his second Test, he only passed 50 once more in seven Tests and was axed following a 3-1 series win over India after a weakness around off stump was ruthlessly exploited.
Being dropped drained his confidence in 2015, but he rediscovered his form last year for Middlesex - scoring 900 runs at just under 45 - to help the side lift the County Championship for the first time in 23 years.
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It wasn't enough to earn him a spot for the overseas series against Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, so he returned home to play Sydney grade cricket for Eastern Suburbs.
"It was the first time I have played back there in five years and really enjoyed it," Robson told AAP.
"It's a good standard of cricket and not too draining as you play just once a week so it kept me ticking over and I feel refreshed for the new season.
"There was fair bit of banter flying around about me playing for England, but it is water off a duck's back. I'm sure it'd be the same in an Ashes series if ever play in one so I guess I'd love to hear it.
"But I know I am a bit behind guys like Keaton Jennings and Haseeb Hamed at the moment in the pecking order so I have a bit of ground to make up.
"If I could play in the Ashes it would be fantastic. It's the pinnacle for any England or Australia player. But I know I have to score a lot of runs for Middlesex first."
Robson came through the NSW junior ranks alongside Steve Smith and admits he been astonished at how the Australia skipper has taken his batting to another level.
"We played as teenagers and he was always a very good player," he said.
"But I don't think any of us envisaged he'd be up there as the No.1 batter in the world. He's had an incredible time of it."
