Commitment. Consistency. Persistence. No man deserved to play Test cricket more than Chris Rogers.
The underlying theme in Rogers’ career is that he earned every opportunity that came his way.
It wasn’t until his 10th season of first-class cricket that Rogers was rewarded for his ability to consistently score runs. However, apart from a spectacular diving catch while fielding at point, his first match in the baggy green wasn’t overly impressive.
As an injury replacement, scores of 4 and 15 in a losing side certainly didn’t put him in any headlines. But one thing was for sure, he deserved a second chance.
Five years later, at 35 years of age, he appeared to have Buckley’s of that second chance. However at the start of 2013 English Summer, with 10,998 first-class runs to his name, Rogers’ second chance finally presented itself. And didn’t he make it count?
24 Test matches in two years. 1972 runs at an average of 42.86. Five hundreds. 14 fifties. The third highest Australian run scorer since July 2013, only behind Steven Smith and Dave Warner.
Not bad for bloke who upon topping the first-class aggregate run scorer list two years in a row was told he wasn’t scoring enough runs to earn a recall.
And it’s fair to ask, what if? Regardless, once called up by the Australian selectors, Rogers delivered.
In an era of explosive batting and power hitting, Rogers reminded us what it was to ‘dig in’. When all hope was seemingly lost as batsmen fell around him, Rogers held tight scoring, grinding 50 after grinding 50, with the odd 100 thrown in too. Always unfashionable, but never out of style.
With his final Test also marking the retirement of Michael Clarke, I hope he is not forgotten.
His service to the baggy green at a time where it needed leadership and a cool head has been blemish-free. He was a champion and legend who has reminded us what Test cricket is all about.
Thank you Buck.
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