“I have had an amazing couple of years playing for Australia and enjoyed it and been part of some pretty special things”
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Australia opening batsman Chris Rogers has confirmed that he will retire from international cricket at the end of the ongoing Ashes series.
Rogers, who is Australia’s leading run-scorer in the series, will be looking to go out with a bang, especially as England have already regained the Ashes following their innings and 78-run win in the fourth Test in Nottingham.
“I have had an amazing couple of years playing for Australia and enjoyed it and been part of some pretty special things, but everything comes to an end,” Rogers, who will be joining Australia captain Michael Clarke and pace bowler Ryan Harris on the list of Australian players retiring this year, said. “You are never 100 per cent sure, but I felt like this (Test starting at The Oval on Thursday) was the last one.
“There’s been a few things, particularly the head issues lately, so I am quite happy to call it a day. It’s time for Australian cricket to make a few changes and bring in a few new guys, a few fresh faces.
“It’s going to be a challenging time, particularly for the new guys but that’s part of it.”
Rogers, who turns 38 at the end of the month, had the opportunity to become Australia’s oldest Test player since former skipper Steve Waugh if he had opted to play during the upcoming tour of Bangladesh, but he has chosen to accept that his terrific run has come to an end.
I’m 38 this month and I feel old – and I think there’s other things to do in life,” he said. “I’ve been lucky enough to play cricket as a living for nearly 20 years. It’s been amazing and just such a privilege, but everything good comes to an end.
“The highs you get (are incredible). The 173 I scored at Lord’s is just going to be one of those memories I’ll have forever … that [first] hundred I got at Durham (in 2013), when I was in tears, winning the Ashes, winning in South Africa. All those are magic moments that you’ll never get again.
“That’s going to be the sad part – but I’ve had enough of them now and I can be happy with that.”