Rogers shows what Australia missing

London:

Chris Rogers gave the Australian selectors reason to ponder their decision to leave him out of the Ashes tour party by blasting a century for Derbyshire in his first county championship match of the year on Tuesday.

The Victorian opening batsman scored 104 out of Derbyshire's 402 for eight declared which also included half-centuries for Garry Park and Dan Redfearn.

Gloucestershire's bowlers made little headway and the rain-hit Division Two match ended in a draw.

Rogers had missed the first three Championship games because of a problem with his visa application but he was soon dominating the bowling on a chilly, overcast day.

Gloucestershire had taken a wicket in the third over of the morning when Anthony Ireland knocked out Steve Stubbings' middle stump with 31 on the board.

But Rogers and Park then took control in a stand that added 146 in 38 overs for the second wicket.

Rogers hit nine fours in his fifty which came off 64 balls and Park drove off-spinner Richard Dawson over long on for the first of his three sixes.

Steve Kirby bowled an excellent spell at Rogers either side of lunch and came close to dismissing the Derbyshire skipper before he reached his fifth century for the county and his 34th in first-class cricket from 132 balls.

Rogers had hit 17 fours in his hundred and he pulled Jon Lewis for another before he was lbw for 104 trying to repeat the shot off the next ball.