Chris Rogers will walk away from international cricket after the fifth Ashes Test admitting age has caught up with him and that recent blows to the head have made him question whether his reactions are slowing down.
The 37-year-old opener, one of Australia’s few success stories on an otherwise grim tour of England, has confirmed that, like his captain Michael Clarke, he will slip into international retirement following the conclusion of the series. “I’m 38 this month and I feel old,” said Rogers, who has been the top scorer for the tourists with 437 runs in four Tests. “There’s other things to do in life. I’ve been lucky enough to play cricket as a living for nearly 20 years. It’s been amazing and a privilege but everything good comes to an end.”
Rogers suffered a dizzy spell en route to a career-best 173 in the second Test at Lord’s, 48 hours after being struck behind the ear by a Jimmy Anderson bouncer. It was his third head injury in eight months. The left-hander missed two Tests against West Indies in June after a net bowler in Dominica left him with concussion, while he considered retirement following a ball to the helmet when fielding at short leg against India in Brisbane last December.
“Health obviously is the most important thing,” said Rogers, who stated in May he was planning to quit after the tour of England. “When you get to 37, 38 you start to wonder whether your reflexes are slowing down and I’ve been hit in the head a few too many times for my liking of late. And facing Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc in the nets isn’t my definition of fun. I’m well aware Father Time is probably calling, so I can be happy.”
Rogers made his Test debut in 2008 but had to wait a further five years before returning for the 2013 Ashes – aged 35 – and going on to be the leading scorer on either side across the back-to-back series. He averages 42.86 going into his 25th Test, having scored five centuries.
Despite his impending international retirement, Rogers may yet return to county cricket after a break, having already held discussions with Middlesex where he has captained previously.
BREAKING: Chris Rogers has officially announced his retirement: http://t.co/pN27z8AFBE #ThanksBucky pic.twitter.com/cUCGAAkBw8
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) August 18, 2015
