The Pak Banker

Chris Rogers follows Clarke into retirement

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Chris Rogers is retiring from internatio­nal cricket after this week's Ashes finale against England, the Australia opener announced on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old joins his captain Michael Clarke in retiring from internatio­nal career after the fifth Test. He said: "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."

England wrapped up the Ashes with victory in the fourth Test that put them 3-1 up in the five-match series. Tuesday's confirmati­on comes after Rogers had suggested it was his plan to make the Oval his internatio­nal swansong in what will be his 25th career Test.

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. The determined left-hander has since scored five Test centuries, most recently in Australia's only victory of this Ashes series at Lord's.

Rogers suffered a dizzy spell in the second Test at Lord's and was forced off the field on 49 in Australia's second innings. Medical tests revealed the injury was related to a balance problem in the inner ear caused when Rogers was hit on the helmet by a James Anderson bouncer during his Test-best 173 in the first innings. Despite injury doubts he was able to play at the next Test at Edgbaston. Explaining his decision to accompany Clarke into retirement, Rogers added:

"You are never 100 per cent sure, but I felt like this (Test at The Oval) was the last one." "There's been a few things, particular­ly the head issues lately, so I am quite happy to call it a day."

"It's time for Australian cricket to make a few changes and bring in a few new guys, a few fresh faces." "It's going to be a challengin­g time, particular­ly for the new guys - but that's part of it."

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