Chris Rogers announces retirement from first-class cricket

Chris Rogers, the former Australian opener, called time on his illustrious first-class career after playing in Somerset’s final County Championship game of the summer against Nottinghamshire on Thursday (September 22).

The 39-year-old left-handed opener cracked hundreds in both innings to pilot Somerset to a crucial 325-run victory, which took them to the top of the table with 226 points, with also, a realistic chance of winning their maiden Championship title.

“That’s it for me,” he said. “I have had a good career and to finish off that way is pretty special. I’m getting old. I am going to miss playing and the standing ovation from the crowd was very special, but it happens in all careers and it’s time to move on.

“My overriding feeling is one of immense pride in my team. We were favourites to go down at the start of the season and look where we are now.

“I’ll be texting a few of my old teammates at Middlesex tonight, you can be sure of that. I know what is in their dressing room and I know they will fight all the way against Yorkshire. The title race is out of our hands, but neither side will role over at Lord’s so it’s going to be interesting.”

Rogers made his first-class debut back in 1998-99 for Western Australia. He also played for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield. The southpaw opener was a prolific run-getter in the County circuit and represented Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire and Somerset. He ends his first-class career with 25,470 runs in 313 games.

Rogers played his first Test match against India in Perth in 2008, but found himself in the wilderness for the next five years. Eventually, he earned a recall for the Ashes 2013 on the back of his good form for Middlesex. The opening batsman announced his retirement from international cricket at the end of last year’s Ashes where he finished his career with 2015 runs at an average of 42.87 in 25 Tests.