Rogers named in Australia’s Ashes squad

Middlesex captain Chris Rogers has been named in Australia’s 16-man squad for this summer’s Ashes series with England.

Rogers, 35, is recalled more than five years after his one and only Test appearance for his country, against India in January 2008.

But he has been given his reward for a prolific spell in county cricket, scoring more than 1,000 runs in each of the last five County Championship seasons for first Derbyshire and then Middlesex. He has also played for Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

Rogers said: “I am delighted and honoured to be given another chance to represent Australia.

“I thought the chance might have passed me by, but I never gave up hope or the desire to be part of a successful Australian Ashes side.”

The veteran opener mustered just four and 15 in his two innings against India and had his central contract with Australia cancelled soon after.

His return means he could play for his country at Lord’s when the second Test is played there between 18 and 22 July.

And Australia’s national selector John Inverarity hinted Rogers’s form in English conditions played a part in his recall.

He said: “Chris is a hardened first-class cricketer and has been given a deserved opportunity on the back of sustained run-scoring in both Australia and England over many seasons.”

Rogers’s absence over the summer will come as a blow to Middlesex after he scored 145 runs in his first four County Championship innings this season.

However, Middlesex’s managing director of cricket, Angus Fraser, offered his congratulations to Rogers.

He said: “There are few batsmen playing domestically over here whose record is anywhere near as impressive as Chris’s, and he more than deserves to be given another opportunity to prove himself on the Test stage with Australia.

“Chris can consider himself extremely unlucky to only have one Test cap to show from such an impressive career.”

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