Victoria opener Chris Rogers battled his way to a five-hour knock of 88 in Wednesday’s Sheffield Shield clash with NSW in a performance he says gives him invaluable preparation for the upcoming Ashes series.
Rogers (367 at 40.77) was one of the few success stories to come out of Australia’s 2013 Ashes tour and says his gritty effort at the MCG has given him important time in the middle ahead of the Gabba Test against England starting on November 21.
However the 36-year-old left-hander admitted not all of his Victoria teammates showed the same level of application as the home side were bowled out at stumps for 236 after choosing to bat first.
The in-form Cameron White (48) was the only other batsman to reach 25 for the Bushrangers, as Sean Abbott claimed 3-60 while Doug Bollinger, spinner Steve O’Keefe and Test tweaker Nathan Lyon took wickets each.
“It’s invaluable. I played pretty poorly first-up this morning and my rhythm was out,” said Rogers, who was 13 not out at lunch.
“The longer it went, the better it got and that’s what time in the middle does for you.
“But it’s disappointing we couldn’t go on as a team and get a bigger score.
“I was trying to hit boundaries, I just couldn’t.”
Rogers was adamant his slow start was the type of batting that’s required in tough situations.
“People under-rate experience, I’ve heard,” he said.
“But it’s going to be tough at times and people are allowed to bowl well and make it tough for you and the only way you can do it is stay out there and try to churn the runs out.
“You can’t score runs in the shed.”
White and Rogers added 67 for the third wicket before Abbott yorked White (48) and Aaron Finch (0) in consecutive deliveries with the total on 92.
Abbott, 21, struck again with the score on 112 when Matthew Wade (nine) was caught behind attempting a hook shot.
Rogers was the eighth man out with the score on 198, dragging a short ball from Lyon onto his stumps after hitting nine fours and a six.
“That (236) is under par. The wicket’s pretty good,” Rogers said.
“A combination of them bowling very well and us playing some disappointing shots, so we’re probably a bit behind the eight-ball.”
NSW coach Trevor Bayliss said the early scalps of Rob Quiney (six) and Peter Handscomb (nine) put Victoria on the back foot.
“Those two in a row (by Abbott) set us up very nicely,” Bayliss added.
“We were going to bat. So I’m very happy with where we’re placed.”