Chris Rogers closing in on little-known Test record

Australian opening batsman Chris Rogers has gone 38 Test digs without a duck, just six shy of Jimmy Burke’s world record 44.

Burke opened the Australian batting from 1951 to 1959, so he has held this little-known Test career record for 56 years.

Rogers has a possible second innings against India at the SCG, plus two Tests against the West Indies in June, and five Ashes Tests in July-August. That gives him a minimum eight more innings to pass Burke, and a maximum 15 to take the record to 53.

That will take some catching, and I hope I’m not putting the cricket writer’s curse on the left-hander.

Burke’s 44 Test career digs without a duck had five close shaves, scoring just one run twice, scoring two twice, and three twice.

Second on the list is another Australian, Reggie Duff (1902-1905), who had 40 visits to the crease without a duck, with one run twice, two runs once, and three twice.

Rogers shares third spot with 38 career Test digs without a duck with Indian Brijesh Patel (1974-1977) who scored one run twice, two once, and three runs twice.

Rogers has scored one run twice, two runs twice, and no threes.

Three other Australians are on the no career ducks honours list:

Herbie Collins (1920-1926) went 31 Test digs in scoring one run three times, no twos, and one three.

Tommy Andrews (1921-1926) had 23 digs without a duck that included one run once, no twos, and four threes.

And Matthew Wade (2012-2013) had 22 digs without a duck, with one run once, one two, and no threes.

On the partnership side, Rogers and David Warner are now fifth on the all-time best Australian opening pair averages per innings.

Bill Lawry and Bobby Simpson top the averages list with 60.94, that includes nine three-figure stands, and 18 half-centuries.

Simon Katich and Shane Watson are a surprising second with an average 54.39 per innings, including three century stands, and 10 half-centuries.

Matt Hayden and Justin Langer have scored the most runs (5655) of Australian opening pairs but are third on averages with 51.88, featuring a staggering 14 century stands, and 24 half-centuries.

Fourth are Mark Taylor and Michael Slater who averaged 51.14 as an opening pair, with 10 century stands and 16 half-centuries.

Then Rogers and Warner averaging 49.45 with six century stands, and five half-centuries.

Sixth are David Boon and Geoff Marsh who averaged 46.77, with five century stands, and eight half-centuries.

Seventh are Geoff Marsh and MarkTaylor with a 45.00 average, including four century stands, and nine half-centuries.

Eighth are Bill Lawry and Keith Stackpole with 44.89, including no century stands, but 13 half-centuries.

Ninth are Ed Cowan and Warner who averaged 44.85, with three century stands and six half-centuries.

And tenth are Jimmy Burke and Colin McDonald with a 39.68 average, that included three century stands, and three half centuries.

So Chris Rogers has been a quiet achiever, and likely to continue in that role for sometime to come, despite his 37 years.