Rogers remains a doubt despite training return
AUSTRALIA opener Chris Rogers remains a doubt for the third Investec Ashes Test despite stepping up his recovery with an indoor net session yesterday.
The 37-year-old was forced to retire from Australia’s second innings at Lord’s after suffering on-field dizziness. The episode has since been diagnosed as a delayed reaction to being struck on the head by a James Anderson bouncer two days earlier.
Rogers resumed training along with the rest of the Australia squad at Edgbaston, receiving throw downs from head coach Darren Lehmann, as well as a number of deliveries from off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
He is yet to face Australia’s battery of pace bowlers, however, and Cricket Australia confirmed that Rogers, who averages 53 against England, “remains in some doubt for the third Test’, which starts on Thursday.
Former Middlesex skipper Rogers has vast experience of English conditions and played a pivotal role in Australia’s thumping 405-run victory at Lord’s in the second Test, which levelled the series at 1-1.
The third and final one-day international in the Women’s Ashes series, meanwhile, will take place today, the match’s reserve day, after persistent rain meant no play was possible at New Road, Worcester yesterday.
Both teams have secured two points having won an ODI apiece, with a Test match and three Twenty20 showdowns to follow today’s 50-over clash.
Rain also played havoc with fixtures in the opening round of domestic cricket’s Royal London One-Say Cup, with four of yesterday’s seven fixtures abandoned without a single ball being bowled and only one match reaching a conclusion.
Although the weather ensured no result was possible, batsman Gary Ballance made a 55-ball 31 for Yorkshire against Gloucestershire at Headingley in his first outing since being dropped by England.