The fact that the fifth Ashes Test will be Michael Clarke’s last has been reverberated in all forms of the media in the lead up to the Test.
It is also likely to be Chris Roger’s final Test, a fact that has barely received any coverage.
Clarke is likely to walk out to bat with a guard of honour and will receive a standing ovation and thunderous applaud.
Rogers won’t get a guard of honour, nor does he deserve it, but he surely deserves an accolade or two.
Team mates will make no secret of trying to win the final Test solely for Clarke.
Current and former players will place their farewell messages on social media in the next few days. Clarke will oblige by series of tweets appreciating the support.
Rogers will not be on Twitter thanking everyone for the special messages, he will do that in a comfort of the dressing room.
Win, lose or draw, this Test will be remembered as Michael Clarke’s last Test.
Win, lose or draw, down the years, Chris Rogers will be the answer to a pub quiz question: who was Aussie opener who played three Ashes series, playing 25 Tests until at the age of 37.
Even the speculation of Michael Clarke’s retirement on the third morning of the fourth Test had overshadowed the brief session of play that day.
Channel Nine pre-game show surrounded the hype around Clarke’s retirement was clarified through a live interview on TV rather than in a press conference after the match, which had generally been the process.
Chris Rogers had made his intention to retire after the Ashes nearly six months ago. There has been no verification or a special media conference or an interview, nor has there been any confirmation.
In the last two weeks there have been speculation and rumours that Clarke has been travelling in between games in a private car with his wife. There are rumours of Clarke ditching his teammates in between matches.
Chris Rogers is single and for him everything revolves around cricket.
The whole nation is on the same page about Clarke decision to retire. For Rogers, many want him to go on until a suitable replacement is found.
Clarke will receive plenty of emotional hugs at the conclusion of the Test.
Rogers may just pick up the stump as a souvenir. There is likely to be a tear or two for Clarke but Rogers will just nod and continue.
Rogers and Clarke’s careers have been poles apart. Clarke scored a scintillating ton on debut but along the way could have been given out on 68 and 91, only for the umpire to look elsewhere. Rogers was adjudged LBW to a ball that would have barely even clipped the leg stump.
Such was each player’s destiny in their respective cricket careers.
They are different personalities and we will witness two different farewells at the Oval. But in reality, isn’t rooms all about different personalities?
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