Rogers ruled out of first Windies Test

Opener Chris Rogers has been ruled out of the first Test against the West Indies due to concussion.

The left-hander was struck on the helmet by a net bowler during training on Sunday and later displayed symptoms of a mild concussion, notably some dizzyness and a headache.

Team doctor Dr Peter Brukner said after making the diagnosis, he made the call to rule Rogers out of the match in line with Cricket Australia's policy on concussion.

Brukner spoke with Rogers, coach Darren Lehmann and captain Michael Clarke at training today to deliver the news and explain his decision.

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Rogers with team doctor Brukner, coach Lehmann and captain Clarke // Getty Images

"I assured Michael if it was him or anyone else we would make exactly the same decision," Brukner said.

"This is a black and white rule now. If someone is concussed, they don't play.

"He was disappointed obviously. Obviously nobody wants to miss a Test match and he was very disappointed.

"He tried to talk me around, as they do.

"I've spoken to the players and explained the decision to them and said that's the way we operate, that's our policy and it won't be any different no matter who the player is."

Rogers won't return to training until his symptoms have subsided, which is expected to happen in the next few days.

Brukner said it was likely Rogers would be available for the second Test in Jamaica but a call on that would be made later in the tour.

Rogers was hit by a local net bowler when he was batting on one of the centre practice wickets during Sunday's lengthy training session.

After taking a moment to compose himself after the blow, the left-hander played and missed at the next ball and hit one of the stumps with his bat in frustration.

He then moved out of the net and spent several moments crouched over his bat.

The 37-year-old spent Monday's session away from the main group, picking up loose balls from fielding drills and helping remove the witches hats from the ground.

Rogers was hit on the back of the helmet fielding at short leg last summer in Brisbane, and only weeks after the passing of Phillip Hughes, it lead the Test opener to consider his immediate playing future.

"Then we went up to Brisbane, and day one I was under there (at short leg) and Rohit Sharma swept one and he hit me in the back of the helmet, and it’s only inches away from where Phil got hit," Rogers said in January.

"So you just have different thoughts go through your head.

"That night I was pretty upset, so I just wasn't sure which way to go. I had to speak to a few people close to me.

"It was an interesting time after what happened with Phil.

"There are a lot of guys who are finding it pretty hard.

"Mortality hadn't really been an issue in the game."

Rogers struck on helmet during Gabba Test against India

Brukner believes it's the first time a player has been ruled out of a Test with a mild concussion and said it was the sign of the changing approach towards head injuries, no matter how minor they may seem.

"I think most sporting organisations now have reviewed their concussion guidelines and we're certainly taking a much stricter approach than we did," Brukner said.

"This is consistent with the Cricket Australia approach to concussion.

"Concussion is a significant injury. We know that if the symptoms and the various tests that we've done are indicators that someone's not fully recovered then they shouldn't return to sport and that's the situation with Chris.

"And I know it's not an insignificant thing to rule someone out of a Test match.

"We don't do this lightly. But my first priority and Cricket Australia's first priority is to the individual player and his health. And that's why we've made the decision."

West Indies coach Phil Simmons was unaware Rogers had been ruled out when he spoke to reporters some three hours after the decision had been made public.

"He's a very important part of the Australian batting lineup," Simmons said.

"He's been like the glue there with the others coming around and playing a lot of shots. That could be a big miss for them."

The first Test against the West Indies starts on Wednesday.