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Australia enters today’s Boxing Day Test with one hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the other anxiously fumbles the remaining festive wrap.
The scene is in total contrast to the relaxed and content Chris Rogers, who up until last season spent five years sharing Christmas cards with one-Test-wonder teammates in a ritual that appeared destined to continue beyond his playing days.
But with the addition of 17 Tests in the last 18 months and a welcome pair of second Test 55s in Brisbane last week, the only concern for the pugnacious leftie heading into 2015 is when and where to finally hang the willow.
Despite entering the summer as a first Test question mark, the 37-year-old now stands tall among a cast of wannabes and injuries to finish on his terms after the 2015 Ashes.
Only a disillusioned and desperately harsh selection panel could deny Rogers an Ashes farewell in his second home that houses over half the Victorian Shield star’s 71 first-class tons.
Despite only showing glimpses of his best this year in South Africa and joining a long list of spin-fearers in the UAE, Roger’s form home and abroad against the Old Enemy demands a fair shake of latitude at the selection table.
The 2013 away series loss to England doubled as Rogers’ Test resurrection with the former West Australian holding his own, averaging 40 in the five Tests. He finished behind only Michael Clarke and the now under-siege Shane Watson on aggregate.
An even better performance in last summer’s return-leg, including two centuries and 463 runs saw the opener finish as leading run scorer from either side across the back-to-back Ashes contests.
The now retired Graeme Swann’s dip and bounce was the only concern for Rogers across the 10 Tests, where the left hander effectively blunted the strike power of James Anderson’s sizzling right–arm outswing.
In complimenting his own form, the rejuvenated new ball blunter has developed a crucial opening partnership with Duracell bunny David Warner.
In Australia’s last seven Tests across three different countries the odd-couple have averaged 50 per stand at a bowler-busting 4.2 runs per over.
Therefore, with only four Tests remaining before the Ashes, only a dismal run of failures in Melbourne, Sydney and the two Test tour of the West Indies will prevent Rogers from padding-up in Cardiff for the First Test next July.
So with Rogers’ seemingly clear headed and well placed to finish on his own terms, a return to Melbourne and repeat of his maiden Test century on Australian soil will go a long way to helping fresh-faced skipper Steve Smith hoist his first Test series trophy.
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