Warning over Rogers injury

AUSTRALIA have been warned of the ‘potentially devastating’ consequences of allowing head-injury victim Chris Rogers to play in next week’s third Ashes Test. The 37-year-old opener (below) slumped to the ground while batting in the second Test at Lord’s on Sunday before retiring ill just 48 hours after suffering a sickening blow to the head from a James Anderson bouncer. Rogers will have further assessment tomorrow and is a doubt for the Test at Edgbaston, starting next Wednesday. Peter McCabe, chief executive of brain injury charity Headway, warned: ‘The risk of exacerbating the damage — with potentially devastating consequences — by continuing to play on is simply too great to ignore.’ Australia team doctor Peter Bruckner said on Monday that Rogers’ collapse was unrelated to his previous concussions — Rogers missed both Tests against the West Indies last month after suffering concussion in a practice accident — and was caused by an ear problem. The batsman has visited specialists, although they cleared him of serious damage, there were some minor irregularities in the findings. It is understood a further complication is that he only suffers any loss of bearings when his head is in a certain position. But McCabe added: ‘Concussion is an evolving injury. If it is suspected, it is vital that players are removed from the field of

play.’