'Australia can't win Ashes without Rogers'

Former Test spinner Gavin Robertson says the fitness of Chris Rogers could be the difference between Australia winning and losing the Ashes.

Rogers has been Australia's star batsman in the opening two Ashes Tests, peeling off scores of 95, 10, 173 and 49 not out to blunt England's experienced pace attack and ensure the tourists have all the momentum heading into this week's third Test at Edgbaston.

Watch: Australia close to deciding on third Test XI

The opener had been under a fitness cloud for the match in Birmingham having been forced to retire hurt in his second innings at Lord's when he suffered a dizzy spell.

Having been struck on the helmet during the first innings of the second Test, and having missed the two-Test series in the West Indies due to concussion, Rogers conceded that he feared his series – and probably his international career – could be over.

But the left-hander confirmed on Monday that he should be fit to play this week, barring any unexpected setback in the coming days.

Watch: Rogers firms for third Test

And Robertson, who played four Tests and 13 one-day internationals for Australia in the 1990s, says the tourists need Rogers in their side if they are to retain the urn on English soil for the first time since 2001.

"I almost don't think we can win the Ashes if he's not there," Robertson told Sky News.

"I think he helps the top six in such a way from a momentum position and how he plays. We've learnt so much in the first (two) Tests about how he plays, how late he plays (and) how tight he plays.

"I think numerous players – Steve Smith is a good example – totally changed the way he played and (he) said it in the press conference.

"I think Rogers has showed how you play in England. He's got beautiful late hands, soft. I think we need him."

Rogers has enjoyed great success in English conditions during his short and belated international career, averaging almost 58 in the UK from seven Tests with two centuries and three fifties.

Watch: Highlights of Rogers's Lord's century

His ability to handle to English Dukes ball better than some of his Test teammates no doubt stems from his extensive county cricket experience; he's scored over 11,000 first-class runs at an average of 54 for Middlesex, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, with 35 centuries.

The 37-year-old, who has strongly indicated he will call time on his international career at the end of this series, says he fully expects to cop a barrage of short balls from England's quicks at Edgbaston.

And he says he will be more prepared to handle bouncers than he was at Lord's, when he was struck by a surprise short ball from Jimmy Anderson delivered with the first ball of the second day.

"If anything, I probably wasn't expecting it (to receive a bouncer) that ball, it was the first ball of the day and I thought I might get a nice little cover drive or something first up,” Rogers said.

"But he (Anderson) really surprised me – I've got to be aware of these things.

"I'm not stupid; I know they'll come even harder at me, but who knows?

"It looks like a green wicket, so if they're bowling short that may work well for me.

"They've still got to pitch it up at some stage, but I know full well they're going to come hard – that’s part and parcel of opening the batting."

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