England an easy option for Sam Robson, says Australia's David Warner

David Warner has backed childhood friend Sam Robson to make an impact in Test cricket - but says the Australian-born Middlesex opener only chose England because it was easier to get in their team.

Robson and Warner grew up together in the Sydney suburb of Paddington, but the openers could be facing each other as Ashes rivals next summer following Robson's England call-up for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's next week.

The 24-year-old, three years Warner's junior, moved to England in 2008 after being spotted by Middlesex.

Demand: Sam Robson has been called up by England for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's

Despite having played for Australia Under-19s, Robson has an English mother, and committed himself to his adopted country late last year. He scored five centuries for the England Lions in the winter and after a good start to the season for Middlesex finds himself as captain Alastair Cook's latest opening partner.

Nick Compton, Joe Root and Michael Carberry have all failed in that role since the retirement of former captain Andrew Strauss 19 months ago.

However, Australia's crushing Ashes whitewash last winter, and the purge in the England camp that followed it, has presented Robson with his big chance.

'I've played a lot of grade cricket with Sam and he is your typical opening batsman,' said Warner. 'He's old school, likes to grind it out. I know he'll do a fantastic job for England.

'It was obviously disappointing he didn't stay as an Australian but I think he feels he had a better chance of playing international cricket with England than he did back at home. We wish him all the best and I know when we come up against him we'll have a beer afterwards.'

Australia have not won an Ashes series in England since 2001, losing three successive away series, including last year's 3-0 defeat.

Yet they are confident of ending that run after their 5-0 win last winter and the subsequent series victory in South Africa which propelled them back to the top of the world rankings.