Rogers confirms retirement after Ashes final Test

Australia opener Chris Rogers said it was his plan to make the Oval his international swansong in what will be his 25th career Test. (Reuters)

AFP/LondonChris Rogers is retiring from international cricket after this week’s Ashes finale against England, the Australia opener announced yesterday. The 37-year-old joins his captain Michael Clarke in retiring from international career after the fifth Test. He said: “I have had an amazing couple of years playing for Australia and enjoyed it and been part of some pretty special things—but everything comes to an end.” England wrapped up the Ashes with victory in the fourth Test that put them 3-1 up in the five-match series. Yesterday’s confirmation comes after Rogers had suggested it was his plan to make the Oval his international swansong in what will be his 25th career Test. Rogers, who has more than 24,000 first-class runs to his name, made his Test debut in 2008 but did not win his second cap until the start of the 2013 Ashes - at the age of 35. The determined left-hander has since scored five Test centuries, most recently in Australia’s only victory of this Ashes series at Lord’s. Rogers suffered a dizzy spell in the second Test at Lord’s and was forced off the field on 49 in Australia’s second innings. Medical tests revealed the injury was related to a balance problem in the inner ear caused when Rogers was hit on the helmet by a James Anderson bouncer during his Test-best 173 in the first innings. Despite injury doubts he was able to play at the next Test at Edgbaston. Explaining his decision to accompany Clarke into retirement, Rogers added: “You are never 100 percent sure, but I felt like this (Test at The Oval) was the last one. There’s been a few things, particularly the head issues lately, so I am quite happy to call it a day...I’ve been hit in the head a few too many times of late. It’s time for Australian cricket to make few changes and bring in a few new guys, a few fresh faces. It’s going to be a challenging time, particularly for the new guys—but that’s part of it.” Rogers has been one of Australia’s best batsmen in a disappointing series, sparking speculation he could defer his retirement. But Rogers, speaking to reporters at The Oval, said: “I am 38 this month and I feel old. There’s other things to do in life as well.” However, Rogers—who has had several spells in English cricket, most recently with Middlesex—said he could prolong his county career. “I spoke to Angus Fraser (Middlesex’s director of cricket and an England selector) the other day just to see where they are at...But I’m going to take a break and if I decide that’s it, maybe I won’t play anymore.” Rogers said experience of county cricket would benefit young Australian players but warned it would be hard to come by. “It’s just not that easy. Counties aren’t necessarily just going to pick up young Aussie cricketers,” he said. “There’s good players all round the world and you are only allowed one overseas player. We’d like to send our young guys over here but I’m not sure England are going to be that accommodating.” Asked what he would miss the most in no longer representing Australia, Rogers replied: “Playing international cricket is just such a privilege and the highs you get (are incredible). The 173 I scored at Lord’s is just going to be one of those memories I’ll have forever. That (maiden Test) hundred I got at Durham (in 2013) when I was in tears. Winning in South Africa, missing the (2013/14 Ashes) celebrations with the prime minister (Rogers was hungover at the time), all those kind of magic moments that you’ll never get again. That’s going to be the sad part—but I’ve had enough of them now.. and I can be happy with that.”