Published: Aug 11, 2015, 03:29 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 11, 2015, 03:38 PM (IST)
Without a shadow of a doubt Clarke has been one of Australia’s all-time greats. His abilities as player and captain cannot be questioned. The entire Australian team would want him to sign off on a winning note despite going down meekly to England in the series. But with Rogers retiring at the top, Australia will have to fill another huge void when it comes to finding an apt opener. POLL: Who should replace Chris Rogers as Australia’s opener in Tests after Ashes 2015?
What makes Rogers special? He has played only 24 Tests till date. For one, he has a record of scoring seven fifties in a row, which means he has held fort at one side. Nineteen times has he exceeded fifty, of which five have been hundreds. His first duck came as late as in his 46th innings. Rogers has put a heavy price on his wicket, seldom throwing good starts away, making bowlers earn his wicket. Having opened with the attacking David Warner for most of his career, Rogers has never looked to emulate him in any way; he is fully aware of his strengths and prefers to adhere to them. READ: Chris Rogers, is it really your time to retire?
Rogers’ technique is matched by few in the Australian side. His temperament is phenomenal, and his appetite for runs insatiable. He may have missed out the series against West Indies after being hit on the head in the nets, but his determination to play the subsequent Test after being hit by a James Anderson bouncer shows that he still has a lot of fire left in him.
The retirement of Ryan Harris too right before Ashes 2015 was a big blow for the Australia. Like Rogers, Harris made his debut post 30 and played only 27 Tests. Harris was missed sorely by Australia in Ashes 2015; many believe had Harris played in the series, the result could have been different.
The good thing about Australia cricket is they give a chance to players who perform well regardless of age; more often than not it has paid off. Michael Hussey, and more recently, Adam Voges, are players who bear testimony to this theory.
Rogers’ presence at the top of the order will certainly be missed. Australia will find it difficult to find an apt replacement for him. But this might be just the right time for them to groom a youngster — someone who has done well in the domestic circuit. Australia are definitely not short of talents. As they embark upon a new era under a new leader, the selectors have a few important decisions to take.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
