Rogers still feels effects of head hit

CHRIS Rogers says he’s had some “pretty bad days” and hasn’t fully recovered since he was hit on the helmet at a training session last month.

Ruled out of both Tests against the West Indies with concussion, the opener is especially keen for some time in the middle before the first Ashes Test in Cardiff on July 8.

The Australians are due to leave Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday, arriving in London on Wednesday.

As well as Australia’s tour games against Kent (June 2528) and Essex (July 1-4), Rogers hopes to play in a warm-up match against Hampshire with Ryan Harris on June 18 and 19. Strike bowler Harris has been rested from the two-Test series against the West Indies.

Rogers said the incident at training on May 31 in Roseau, Dominica, came after he was a bit early on an attempted pull shot. “I didn’t think much of the hit on the head,” he said in Kingston yesterday after day one of the second Test.

“I’ve been hit on the head quite a few times. I thought it was just another one. But then I just didn’t start to feel great.

“I spoke to the doc (team doctor Peter Brukner) and didn’t expect him to rule me out of the Test, but he did.

“I was a little bit surprised at the time but since then I still haven’t quite recovered.

“I’ve had some pretty bad days so I think the doc was right. He made the right call.

“I guess nowadays any knock to the head can make a difference. I just didn’t really think I’d have the headaches and the dizziness that have come with it.

“It’s been surprising but that’s what has happened. I wouldn’t have been right for that Test and I wouldn’t have been right for this Test, either.

“The only thing for me is that the symptoms have gone for so long.”

He faced some throwdowns in the nets yesterday and said: “I’m on the road to recovery.”