Rogers still plagued by Ashes regrets

Former Australia Test opener Chris Rogers says he still thinks about losing the Ashes in England earlier this year, and the predominant feeling is of 'what if?'

What if Australia had played to their potential in the three Tests they lost? Rogers says it was a frustrating way to end his career, as he was one of the leading scorers in the series and still lost.

Not one of the five games reached the fifth day, and only 18 days of cricket were played, and Rogers says England were very good at taking advantage of the Aussies' loss of focus in any given session.

Rogers told cricket.com.au: "We were a better side that what we showed in that series. And that's what we're disappointed about.

"There were a few of us who probably didn't quite perform as well as we wanted to, and that hurts. I think we felt like we left something over there and that's hard to take.

"At the end of the fifth Test, there was a feeling of 'geez, if we could play five Tests again now, what would be the score?'

"We thought when we played well we were going to win, but you've got to give them credit. They played the conditions the way they needed to be played and they came out on top."  

Rogers, a veteran of cricket in England after years on the County circuit, did well because he knew the conditions, and says England were well equipped to do the same.

He added: "I don't think you can dismiss the fact that they're a good side as well. They have some very good players, particularly for those conditions.

"That was probably the difference. They had guys who were a bit more familiar with those conditions and they used them to their advantage a bit better than we did.

"I don't think you can disrespect what they did and how they played. They won 3-2 and you have to give them credit for that."  

Since his retirement, Rogers has tried his hand at commentary, though about coaching, and signed a one-year deal with Somerset for next season in England. But he says he's also thinking about what to do away from the game.

He continued: "It's about finding out what I want to do, trying a few different things and seeing what I like.

"It's always been cricket but there's life after cricket and I've just got to find out what it is.

"When I made that decision (to retire) it was always in the back of my mind… that I could keep going if I felt the desire to do it.

"But certain things happened over the last year, like being hit in the head and living out of a suitcase and not being home, which is incredible in itself and you have some amazing times. But I was getting to the age where I felt the need to slow down a little bit.

"At the time when you're facing the likes of Wood, Finn, Broad and Anderson, you're worrying a bit about 'if I do get hit again, is there going to be some serious damage?'. And when those thoughts start crossing your mind, you start to think it's time.

"And once I did decide, I was happy and I haven't had any regrets."

Latest