DURHAM decided not to risk Graham Onions because of a minor knee problem at Lord's this morning and Sam Robson must have been mightily relieved.

He has never looked comfortable against Onions and on the evidence of a total of 14 runs in four innings against Durham two years ago it is a mystery how he came to open for England last season.

He survived this morning, however, reaching 61 as Middlesex went in to lunch on 105 for one after being put in on a chilly morning.

Paul Coughlin came in for Onions and was the pick of the bowlers when he came on for the 20th over. He beat Robson on 38 with his third ball and had left-hander Nick Gubbins caught at second slip by Scott Borthwick with his sixth, ending a stand of 66.

In his third over Coughlin beat Nick Compton, but there was no further joy for Durham with umpire Peter Hartley as reluctant to raise his finger as at Emirates ICG earlier in the week.

On 27 Robson survived a confident caught behind appeal by John Hastings, who also had a good shout for lbw against Gubbins.

Usman Arshad shared the new ball with Chris Rushworth, but both allowed Robson a leg glance for four in their first overs.

Gubbins twice edged Rushworth very close to Michael Richardson at third slip and the bowler was still out of luck in his second spell, when he twice beat Compton.

Robson, however, looked increasingly assured as he passed 50 against Durham for the first time and with no sign of the threatened rain it could be a long day for Paul Collingwood's men.