Mark Butcher has suggested that the England selectors may choose to look elsewhere if Sam Robson fails with the bat in the fifth Test against India.

Robson scored his maiden Test century earlier this summer against Sri Lanka, but has struggled to replicate the same form since, and Butcher believes that the Middlesex opener is now fighting for a spot in next year's Ashes squad.

"It's reasonably important he makes some kind of a mark on that last Test, ­otherwise they might feel keen to look elsewhere," the former England batsman is quoted as saying by The Mirror. "The lad can ­obviously score runs as he's been doing so for a long time.

"I hope he gets some in the last Test because that will give him a chance to go away and have a look at his method a little bit between now and the next series, which is in April. But there are only a few matches between the next one and the Ashes."

The fifth Test begins on Friday at The Oval, with England needing just a draw to secure a series triumph.