Chris Rogers to Retire After The Ashes
Chris Rogers becomes third Australian cricketer to call time on career in recent months after Ryan Harris and Michael Clarke.
Australia opener Chris Rogers has confirmed his retirement from Test cricket after the conclusion of the ongoing Ashes series in England. He will play the fifth and final Test at The Oval starting Thursday.
Rogers, who is Australia's leading run-scorer in the current Ashes series, with 437 runs at 62.42, becomes the third Aussie in recent months to follow Ryan Harris and captain Michael Clarke in bidding farewell to the game. (Ricky Ponting Urges Steve Smith to Continue Batting at No. 3 for Australia)
"I think it is time, 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 and I have been pretty lucky.
"You are never 100% sure but I felt like this was the last one, there's been a few things, particularly the head issues lately, I am quite happy to call it a day. People tell me you know when you know and I felt like this is the right time," Rogers told cricket.com.au.
Rogers is the oldest member of the current Australian team but has been one of the few to shine in the Ashes. He made 173 in the first innings of the second Test at Lord's, but retired hurt on 49 in the second innings, complaining of dizziness after being hit in the head earlier in the match.
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.
After struggling for years to cement a place in the team, the left-hander has been in the best form of his career.
"It's pretty special, someone said to me not many people go out when they're scoring runs or taking wickets, it's generally not how it happens, so that's something to be proud of as well," he said.
"It would've been perfect to have won this series but it's not to be, England have been deserving winners and we've been outplayed.
"I think I can be proud I've played quite well and stood up, and made a little bit of a difference."
(With inputs from agencies)
The 37-year-old has played 24 Tests for Australia scoring 1972 runs with the help of five centuries and 14 fifties at 42.86.