The 2015 Ashes Series in England is well underway, with England leading the series two games to one.
The biggest problem to come out of it so far from an Australian point of view is not the fact that they are behind, but rather the coming departure of Chris Rogers.
Currently in the 2015 Ashes series, Rogers has had scores of 95, 10, 173, 49 (retired hurt), 52 and 6. So from six innings that has left him with total of 385 runs at an average of 77.
However it is important to look beyond the statistics when you look at the true value of what Rogers has brought to the Australian side this series and just how much he is going to be missed when he retires at the end of it.
For example, his 52 in the first innings of the third Test came in swinging and seeming conditions as the Australian team were bundled out by the English for a measly total of just 136. In the two games Australia have lost during the series, Rogers has been the rock at the top of the order giving Australia some sort of chance in each match.
Looking further into the equation, Rogers has been the only batsman who has really showed any patience throughout the series, particularly in the first and third test match where Australia lost.
Even looking at the second Test, where Australia won comprehensively his knock of 173 could well have changed the direction of that game at the top of the order. With David Warner being dismissed for 38 and the Australians already coming off a loss, his partnership with Steve Smith completely altered the course of the second test match setting up an easy win for the Australians.
Rogers is a very traditional Test batsman, he has plenty of patience and is happy to bat all day picking his balls to hit and defending the best bowlers in world cricket when they are on their game.
This is a skill that the rest of the Australian batting order has lacked so far in the 2015 Ashes – and it has shown up on the scorecard multiple times.
The first option to replace Rogers is Shaun Marsh. Marsh has never truly impressed in the test match arena and given a chance earlier this year against the Wests Indies he only added to a long list of failures. Despite this Marsh now carries a solid batting average of 35.79 and will more than likely be viewed as the first choice option.
However, for mine it looks like he could become the new Shane Watson of Australian cricket.
So, who else is on the radar to open the batting?
The first two names that spring to mind, two that have been scoring a truckload of runs over the last couple of seasons in all forms of the game, are Jordan Silk and Nick Maddinson.
Playing with Tasmania, Silk burst onto the scene about two years ago scoring stacks of runs in the Sheffield Shield competition and despite his youth was being discussed as a potential for Test Match cricket.
Silk has shown his prowess, particularly in the Sheffield Shield final of 2013/2014 where he became the youngest ever to score a century, against the Queensland Bulls. Silk has also shown his skills representing Australia A.
Nic Maddison has also been scoring a lot of runs, however his temperament for Test cricket has to be discussed. He seems to be more at home playing Twenty20 cricket.
Other options include Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja and even Mark Cosgrove. Whilst Burns and Khawaja both have Test experience, neither has much.
Burns looked at home in his debut series against India and was a surprise omission from the Ashes series. Cosgrove and Bancroft meanwhile, both don’t have experience, although Bancroft is piling up a handy record for Australia A as we speak.
For mine Burns looks to be the best option, although Silk certainly looks to have the temperament to play Test match cricket one day. Whichever way the selectors go when Rogers departs though, the only thing for sure will be that they are massive boots to fill in the Australian cricket team.
Right now it doesn’t look like there is anyone capable of filling the role.
So, over to you Roarers? How do Australia replace Chris Rogers?
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