Consistent Rogers joins elite group

CHRIS Rogers overcome an onslaught of nerves to make a landmark 95 on day two of the first Test, and walked off with renewed motivation that he has unfinished business to achieve this Ashes series before he rides off into the sunset.

The veteran opener broke two landmarks in Cardiff, producing his first ever six in Test cricket and joining an elite company of just four others to have made seven consecutive half centuries.

However, sadly for Rogers, he now stands as the only man in history to have passed 50 so many times without going on to make a hundred after he got restless and edged Jimmy Anderson behind.

Australia desperately needed him to go on as they threw away a strong start.

At 37, Rogers knows the nature of his late blooming Test career has always had him under perennial pressure.

But after missing two Tests in the West Indies due to con- cussion and watching from the sidelines as Shaun Marsh racked up runs in his absence, Rogers admits he felt the temperature rise like never before on the eve of his final series.

However, the silver lining of playing a stellar innings only to fall five runs short of a fifth hundred was that burning desire has now replaced anxiousness as he looks forward to his remaining opportunities this Ashes.

“Getting a couple of 90s (both 95s) in my last couple of innings, that hurts a bit. But equally when I got back to the change room and sat down I thought there’s still a lot of unfinished business for me here too.

“Looking at what happened in the West Indies and knowing that Shaun (Marsh) was a little bit unlucky to get dropped for this game I know there’s pressure on.

“And I’ve said it every time I’ve done a press conference that I’m under pressure to score runs.”

Rogers has scored 55, 55, 57, 69, 95, 56 and 95 as his last seven knocks – an achievement, he says, he can take more satisfaction from than disappointment.