Rogers aiming to write his own history

Had things panned out a little differently, Tom Rogers would have been teaching history this week rather than hoping to make history on the cricket field.

Until last winter, a professional sporting career was a distant dream for the Canberra-raised allrounder who moved to Sydney as a teenager and took a job teaching high school history and geography.

Less than 12 months on from taking a contract with Tasmania, having caught their eye with 30 wickets in two Toyota Futures League seasons with his native ACT, Rogers finds himself as a major figure in the Apple Isle's stunning resurrection.

"The simple answer is yes," Rogers told cricket.com.au when asked if he's surprised even himself. "Since day one until now, you pinch yourself every day you go to work.

"Even the simple days where we're just doing Pilates, there's blokes stretching next to you who you've watched on TV and who have played for Australia and in the IPL. It's pretty special."

In his first Sheffield Shield season, the 24-year-old has been one of the surprise packets of the competition and emerged as one the domestic scene’s leading allrounders.

A right-arm paceman and handy left-hand bat, Rogers has claimed 35 Shield wickets – the equal most by a Tiger this summer – at 17.31 while also adding nearly 300 runs from No.8.

After four miserable seasons since their last Shield crown in 2013, Rogers – along with Sam Rainbird and Jackson Bird, the two other Tasmania quicks to collect 35 scalps this season – has led the Tigers to an unlikely final date with Queensland.

"He's a dream for a captain because you give him clear, explicit instructions and he can generally follow them," Tasmania captain George Bailey said. "For a young guy in his first season of Sheffield Shield, that's a great trait.

"He's someone that you're always happy to take the field with. He plays the game with a fantastic attitude and always with a smile on his face.

"He's been a revelation with the ball but (he’s had) some really important knocks with the bat as well.

"His 80 last week in the second innings (against Victoria) gave us some real momentum and was a catalyst for us winning that game. He's been fantastic."

Heavy rain has battered Brisbane in recent days, giving Bailey hope there may a "green tinge" to the Allan Border Field pitch, which would aid Tasmania's bowling attack and increase chances of an outright result.

By virtue of finishing on top of the ladder Queensland need only a draw to claim the hefty Shield plaque, but Bailey is confident his bowlers can front up one final time this season.

"All year we've been great at taking 20 wickets, that's the only way you can win a game," said Bailey.

"That's given our batting group confidence that if we can hang in the game long enough, even if you are in a bit of trouble, if you can scrap together another 50-100 runs … then our bowling group is always going to keep us in it.

"I think Queensland will feel in the same boat."