Rogers ton steadies Australia
Chris Rogers cemented his place as an Australian Test opener with a remarkable maiden century, 15 years in the making.
His 101 not out was symbolic of his career – patient, tenacious and ultimately unbeaten despite the amount of time it took him to get there.
At 35 years and 344 days old, Rogers became the second oldest Australian to score a breakthrough Test ton, after Arthur Richardson did it at 37 in 1926.
Under the threat of another batting collapse and in the face of a ferocious spell from Stuart Broad in seaming conditions, Rogers rescued Australia from disaster and carried them to 5-222 at stumps on day two, just 16 runs from a first innings lead in the fourth Ashes Test.
Rogers wanted to believe he was good enough to score a Test hundred, but after years of having his case for selection ignored, there was no way he could know for sure.
That uncertainty only intensified when he reached 96 and England players reminded him, “if you don’t get it now, you may never”.
It took him 30 agonising minutes and 19 consecutive balls facing Graeme Swann to finally bring up the milestone with a boundary through square leg.
“I was like a cat on a hot tin roof,” he said.
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There was no big celebration, just the acceptance of a hug from partner Brad Haddin and a bat wave to the dressing room that told a story of pure relief.
Rogers’ only Test prior to this series was way back in 2008 when he was an injury replacement for Matt Hayden against India in Perth.
Until he was given a surprise call-up for the Ashes, Rogers had spent years feeling helpless and disgruntled.
The 60 first-class centuries and 20,000 runs he’d amassed counted for nothing when a memorable fighting hundred was within reach.
“They don’t count for a thing. In some respects it makes it harder because after all this time you’re fully aware how much it means,” he said.
“To get a hundred playing for your country is just a magnificent hundred. I’m so happy and so relieved I got it.
“After all this time you just don’t think that this opportunity is going to come up.
“I’d always hoped so but it just felt like there was always one bloke in the way.
“To get a hundred, that’s something that no one can take away from me, and I can tell my grandchildren about it now … if I have any.”
Rogers rode his luck, playing and missing regularly, but never changed his game.
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He took 231 balls and five and a half hours to get there, and combined in a crucial 129-run partnership with a brilliant Shane Watson (68), who came to the crease at 7-76.
Rogers survived a DRS review when on 20 thanks to a technicality that will soon be changed by lawmakers, and then when passing 50 he was dropped by Swann at slip off Broad (4-48).
“Broad’s was an unbelievable spell. The ball seemed to be coming back a little bit and then seaming away,” he said.
“Swann is as good a spinner as I’ve faced. Then all the other things that go with it. The pressure, the expectation, the criticism. That kind of emotional rollercoaster comes into it.
“In some respects being older has probably helped me.”
SUMMARY OF DAY TWO OF THE FOURTH ASHES TEST BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND ENGLAND AT RIVERSIDE GROUND, CHESTER-LE-STREET:
SCORE:
England 238, Australia 5-222 (Warner 3, Khawaj 0, Clarke6, Smith 17, Watson 68)
MAN OF THE MOMENT:
CHRIS ROGERS’ celebration, or non celebration of a maiden Test hundred, said it all. For a player who had toiled away for 15 years at first-class level, scoring 60 centuries and more than 20,000 runs, it meant everything. It wasn’t 101 not out on a flat deck, it was against a ferocious Stuart Broad in difficult conditions, in the face of another top order collapse.
KEY MOMENT:
Rogers has experienced the frustration of DRS so far this series, but on Saturday he felt the joy. When on 19 runs, Rogers survived two DRS referrals in one Stuart Broad over. He escaped the second on a highly technical loop hole which meant he wasn’t given out lbw on umpire’s call because he was originally given out caught behind. Go figure. Anyway, if the bizarre incident had have happened in October, Rogers would have been out because the ICC are changing their rules.
STAT OF THE DAY:
At 35 years and 344 days old, ROGERS became the second eldest scorer of a maiden century in Australian Test history.
SUMMARY: It was an emotional roller coaster for Australia on day two, losing four quick wickets for just 74. In pursuit of England’s 238, it looked like another embarrassing collapse was on the cards. But ‘Buck’ Rogers produced a memorable fighting century and along with Shane Watson, rescued Australia and ensured there was just a 16-run deficit at stumps, with five wickets still in hand. Rogers and Watson started the series as an opening combination, but it was a fifth-wicket stand of 129 that proved the most vital. Broad was simply unplayable for most of the day and bowled two of the best spells of the series to finish with 4-48.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The England boys were saying ‘if you don’t get it now, you may never’. It was just a fantastic moment to finally get it.” – ROGERS articulates the relief he felt when he finally got Graeme Swann away for his maiden Test ton.
