Brief profile of Chris Rogers by Matthew Reed

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Player:

CJL Rogers

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DateLine: 8th December 2005

 

With ginger hair and an amiable appearance, opponents may briefly make the mistake of under-rating Chris Rogers, although such a scenario is unlikely to survive many of his ferociously hit boundaries. He has proved himself to be a very high-class batsman in both Australian Pura Cup and English county cricket. With an average comfortably in the 40’s in Australia, and in the 60’s in England, Rogers is one of many cricketers who would have played Test cricket by now had he been born in a different country or era. His consistently strong performances for Western Australia have earned him three matches Australia A, although he hasn’t always done himself justice in those matches, and team-mates in those fixtures such as Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey and Brad Hodge have ascended to a baggy green cap without Rogers doing so.

 

However, not even many Test attacks would relish facing a batsman like Rogers, with his ability to unleash thunderous hooks and pulls, or billowing drives. As such, bowlers must be very careful with their length. As befits someone who has spent much of his career opening, Rogers is arguably more comfortable facing pace than spin, and if one was to be critical it would be to say that Rogers frequently gets out when he has already bedded himself in to an innings, but before he has really cashed in. However, such an accusation wasn’t justified in July 2005, as he scored 209 against Australia. Although the tourists attack lacked Warne and McGrath, it was still a wonderful innings, with Stuart MacGill (the world’s second best leg spinner) especially suffering at the hands of Rogers.

 

His first sojourn in county cricket was with Derbyshire, although a serious shoulder injury wiped out the last two thirds of his season, after he had produced some excellent innings in a struggling team. After an even better, injury free half season with Leicestershire in 2005, (in which he averaged over 70 in First-class cricket), Rogers became one of the most wanted overseas professionals in the English game, as he combines the virtues of a proven pedigree with the ability to play a full season (a rare benefit of not having international commitments lack of international commitments). As such, in 2006 he will team up at Northamptonshire with Martin Love, another high class but undercapped Australian batsman. With Australia fielding an ageing Test team, Rogers may yet play Test cricket, although as he is approaching 30 himself he may find himself in the unlucky position of having enjoyed his peak years as the national team did theirs.

 

December 2005

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Matthew Reed)