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Rogers picks Hales' replacement

Bangladesh withdrawal opens the door for Durham youngster

Somerset captain and former Australia batsman Chris Rogers has backed Durham’s Keaton Jennings to replace Alex Hales after England’s incumbent opener withdrew from the tour of Bangladesh.

But Rogers says England might not need to choose an opening batsman to fill Hales’ shoes, suggesting a middle-order player, perhaps veteran Ian Bell, could partner Alastair Cook at the top of the order where spin will be an early threat. 

Hales and England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan pulled out of the upcoming tour of Bangladesh due to security reasons, opening the door for another opener to walk out with Cook to face the new ball in Test cricket.

Having spent the northern summer skippering Division One outfit Somerset, Rogers has seen the best that County Cricket has to offer, and says Jennings deserves his spot after a stunning season with the bat.

"There’s a guy who’s been a standout this year in Keaton Jennings," Rogers told cricket.com.au. 

"He’s already scored 1,500 runs and scored his seventh century (of the season) today, and it was a double-century (200no against Surrey). 

"As an opener he has a very simple game and I like that. 

"He plays very straight, he accumulates, grinds out runs, and makes himself difficult to get out. 

"He’s actually quite tall for an opener; he’s probably close to 6’2” (188cm) and can use his reach to his advantage. 

"There’s a lot to like about him. He’s looked a different player this year to what I’ve seen of him before. 

"Whether (England selectors) want to see him back that up again (next season) who knows, but it’s been an exceptional season by him and you have to respect what he’s achieved so far.

"There’s a young kid called Haseeb Hameed and he’s looked quite impressive. 

"Sam Robson, his second half of the season has fallen away a bit with injury, as has Scott Borthwick. 

"If you’re going to reward performance then Keaton Jennings (should be selected)."

Hales hammers record knock


Jennings’ seventh first-class century on Monday is the most by a Durham batsman in County Cricket, ending the day with four to third man to bring up is second double-century of the season. 

Born in Johannesburg, the 24-year-old represented South Africa at Under-19 level in 2010-11 before debuting for Durham in 2012.

The left-hander is the County Championship’s leading run-scorer, topping the charts with 1,510 at 71.90, but Rogers says England could get away with picking a non-specialist opener in the subcontinent.

"He (Jennings) has got his game worked out, although going to Asia to play is a much different challenge," Rogers said.

"Whether they necessarily need an opener to be that player who partners Cook or just a good middle-order player who can play spin well, because a lot of the time you’re facing spin in the first ten overs anyway."

And while his form or season record might not be as spectacular as Jennings’, Rogers says Bell, with 24 Tests in Asia, could be the perfect foil for the England captain.

Bell, a veteran of 118 Tests, has scored 610 runs at 33.88 for Warwickshire this county season, with a high-score of 174. 

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The 34-year-old last played for England against Pakistan in November last year, but as Rogers knows, it’s never too late restart a career at the highest level. 

"He’s a player who could manage that (opening the batting)," Rogers said. 

"I still think he’s young enough to have another phase in his career, it’s whether the England selectors want to go down that path. 

"He’s a fine player with a very good record. You’d be silly to dismiss thoughts about bringing him back into the side."

The decision by Hales and Morgan not to tour Bangladesh has split opinions in the UK.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said Morgan had made a "huge mistake" and that Hales "has said goodbye to his Test career".

But Rogers has backed his former Middlesex teammate Morgan despite his own uncertainty if he was placed in the same position.

"I’m not in that position and I don’t really know," Rogers said when asked what he would do if he were in Morgan’s shoes. 

"I think I would have listened to what the security officers had advised on and then gone from there. 

"I’ve never toured that part of the world either, never really been to India unfortunately, or Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, and it’s just hard to know. 

"I went on the Australia A tour to Pakistan (in 2007) just before the attack on the Sri Lankan team and the security advised us at that time a cricket side wouldn’t be attacked yet it was, and we went under the pretence it wouldn’t happen.

"I’ve spent a lot of time with Eoin and I have a lot of respect for him as a person and I’m happy to back whatever judgement he makes."