Published: Sep 13, 2016, 12:21 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 13, 2016, 12:21 PM (IST)
Former Australian batsman Chris Rogers on Tuesday backed Durham‘s Keaton Jennings as one of the favourites to replace Alex Hales for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh, as the latter opted out of the tour owing to security concerns. However, Rogers also stated that England might not have to find a replacement for Hales at all, and also suggested that veteran batsman Ian Bell could easily fill in the spot as an opener, and could well partner with Alastair Cook, as spin would be a threat in the typical sub-continental conditions. Apart form Hales, England’s limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan too opted out of the tour owing to the same issue, as it puts England in a situation to possibly find a replacement opener for its side. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Bangladesh vs England 2016, 1st ODI at Mirpur
After having spent a quality time captaining the Division One giants Somerset, Rogers has most likely seen the best side of County Cricket, as he feels Jennings well deserves a chance in the English side, following an impressive season with the bat. “There’s a guy who’s been a standout this year in Keaton Jennings. He’s already scored 1,500 runs and scored his seventh century (of the season) today, and it was a double-century (200no against Surrey),” said Rogers to cricket.com.au.
“As an opener he has a very simple game and I like that. He plays very straight, he accumulates, grinds out runs, and makes himself difficult to get out. He’s actually quite tall for an opener; he’s probably close to 6’2” [188cm] and can use his reach to his advantage. There’s a lot to like about him. He’s looked a different player this year to what I’ve seen of him before,” he added.
“Whether [England selectors] want to see him back that up again [next season] who knows, but it’s been an exceptional season by him and you have to respect what he’s achieved so far. There’s a young kid called Haseeb Hameed and he’s looked quite impressive. Sam Robson, his second half of the season has fallen away a bit with injury, as has Scott Borthwick. If you’re going to reward performance then Keaton Jennings [should be selected],” he said again.
Jennings scored his seventh First-Class century on Monday, which was also the most by any batsman for Durham. The 24-year-old Jennings was born in Johannesburg, as he has also represented South Africa in U-19 in 2010-11 before before making his debut for Durham in 2012. He is also currently the leading run-scorer in County Championship, as he tops the charts with 1,510 along with an average of 71.90.
“He (Jennings) has got his game worked out, although going to Asia to play is a much different challenge. Whether they necessarily need an opener to be that player who partners Cook or just a good middle-order player who can play spin well, because a lot of the time you’re facing spin in the first ten overs anyway,” said Rogers.
Meanwhile, Rogers continues to say that Bell too could be an ideal replacement for Hales, despite his average form in the County Championship. however, his 24 Tests experience in the sub-continent makes him a strong contender to partner alongside Cook. Overall, bell has played 117 Tests, while he has scored 610 runs this season in the County Championship, at an average of 34, while his highest score is 174.
Bell’s last Test for England was back in November 2015 against Pakistan, and Rogers feels that it’s never late to revive one’s international career. “He’s a player who could manage that [opening the batting]. I still think he’s young enough to have another phase in his career, it’s whether the England selectors want to go down that path. He’s a fine player with a very good record. You’d be silly to dismiss thoughts about bringing him back into the side,” said Rogers.
The decision of not touring Bangladesh by Hales and Morgan has split opinions back in England. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan said that it was a ‘huge mistake’ on Morgan’s part, while he believed that Hales’s Test career was almost over following this decision. However, Rogers backed Morgan’s decision.
“I’m not in that position and I don’t really know,” Rogers said when asked what he would do if he were in Morgan’s shoes. I think I would have listened to what the security officers had advised on and then gone from there. I’ve never toured that part of the world either, never really been to India unfortunately, or Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, and it’s just hard to know,” he said.
“I went on the Australia A tour to Pakistan [in 2007] just before the attack on the Sri Lankan team and the security advised us at that time a cricket side wouldn’t be attacked yet it was, and we went under the pretence it wouldn’t happen. I’ve spent a lot of time with Eoin and I have a lot of respect for him as a person and I’m happy to back whatever judgement he makes,” he concluded.
