Rogers seeks Lord's redemption

Chris Rogers begins his second game in charge of Middlesex after being named one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year hoping for a better than in his first.

In Middlesex's season opener, Rogers was edged out for just four in the first innings and his dismissal for 41 in the second sparked a collapse that saw the county rolled by an innings and 127 runs in their season opener against Sussex.

Steaming in at Lord's this time will be Peter Siddle, who makes his Nottinghamshire debut after visa issues delayed his arrival for their opening victory over Lancashire.

For Rogers, it will be his first competitive innings at Lord's since the nadir of his career, Australia's 347-run loss to England in last winter's second Ashes Test.

Rogers was dismissed in circumstances so horrible for an Australian supporter they were almost comical. Rogers lost sight of a slow, looping full-toss that slipped out of Swann's hand, the batsman's wild swipe across the line missing everything as the ball struck him high on the leg. He was given out, and did not review with only one remaining for the innings, only for replays to show it was missing leg stump.

He has spoken often since about that defeat being the lowest ebb of the Australian team, the point from which they regrouped, and started the journey back. That climb was not quick enough to stop England winning that series 3-0, but the team, Rogers in particular, at least brought respectability back to the Australian colours.

Rogers scored 84 in the next Test, at Manchester, putting Australia on course for victory until rain intervened. But his crowning glory was a breakthrough century at Chester-le-Street that also earned him selection as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year.

Wisden editor Lawrence Booth said it was that innings of 110 which, just short of his 36th birthday, earned him the award.

"The award is five compelling stories of people who've done very well over the English summer and here we are giving their narrative," said Booth, who spoke with Rogers about his innings at a dinner to honour the award winners.

"He was talking about the pressure he felt and how he just decided to go for it (after the Lord's Test)," said Booth.

"He came out and played beautifully at Manchester and was unlucky to not get his hundred there."

The Durham century came after Rogers spent 19 balls stuck on 96, all of them from Graeme Swann who was toying with Australia's left-handed batsmen on friendly English pitches.

"He was laughing about the half-hour he spent on 96 with Swann tormenting him, and the sweep he played for four to get to 100," said Booth.

"He said to me how he premeditated that sweep. He thought 'I can either go downtown or I can go square' and said to himself, 'If I go downtown and get caught at mid-off I'm going to get absolutely crucified'. There was no one out at deep square-leg, the ball was in the right area, he swung at it and away it went and the relief he felt was tremendous.

"He said one of the Chester-le-Street stewards said to him that he'd never seen a visiting batsman get such a round of applause from an English crowd before, and I think that said a lot for his popularity in England. He's a good guy and people wanted to see him succeed."

Ryan Harris joined Rogers as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year, his award coming not for the 22 wickets at 19.31 he took in the home whitewash, but for the 24 wicket at 19.58 he took in just four Tests in England.

Booth said Harris was the most consistent bowler on both sides.

"I think Australia probably regret not playing him at Trent Bridge in that first Test," he said.

"He then bowled beautifully for the rest of the series in England. He bowled very well at Jonathan Trott before Johnson came along and gave him a working over.

"Harris was the guy who was forcing him back, stopping him taking the big lunge forward. They had a guy at leg gully in try and dissuade him from that trigger movement and it worked very well."

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Image courtesy Claire Skinner