Sam Robson
Sam Robson leaves the field after being dismissed during the first Test against India at Trent Bridge.Reuters

Geoffrey Boycott has insisted that changes are required in England's top-order, with opener Sam Robson struggling in the series so far.

Robson scored a century against Sri Lanka in the second Test, but has failed to make any big score since then. His highest score against India in the ongoing series is 56, which came on a flat Trent Bridge pitch.

"There is a huge question mark over Robson," Boycott wrote in The Daily Telegraph. "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.

"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."

Robson has been selected in the England squad ahead of Michael Carberry and Adam Lyth for the fifth Test, starting 15 August at the Oval, and the former England captain feels that the Australia-born right-hander would have been axed had he not scored a ton against Sri Lanka earlier in the summer.

Also Read

Boycott said that England need more secure options to cope with the pace and bounce of Australian pace attack led by Mitchell Johnson in the next Ashes series. The 73-year-old added that he does "not think Robson is going to rectify his problems".

The English team have faced difficulties against bouncers lately. Ishant Sharma's lethal spell at Lord's handed the visitors a win, while in the Manchester Test Varun Aaron broke Stuart Broad's nose.

"The whole team fancy themselves to be good at hooking the short ball but they are not," Boycott said. "Look at what happened in the Ashes in Australia. Mitchell Johnson blew away the lower order. They were terrified and batted like scared rabbits.

"Now somebody needs to face up to the fact England are not very good at playing the short ball. If we can't play these Indian bowlers, who are nothing like the pace of Johnson, how the hell are we going to play him [in England] next year?

"They should learn to duck and weave and be selective at playing the occasional hook shot. Hubris and cockiness will not cut it. England's batsmen have to be smarter than that. To carry on as we are is stupid and more players will get smacked in the face."