Warriors hold talks aimed at retaining opener

Rogers considers moving interstate

Cricinfo staff

March 11, 2008

	Chris Rogers is not viewed by Western Australia as a key one-day batsman despite becoming Australia's 399th Test player this season © Getty Images

Western Australia are in danger of losing their star opening batsman Chris Rogers, who is meeting with the state's officials to decide his future. Rogers is reportedly unhappy with his continued omission from the state's one-day side, which he believes is limiting his chances of further international call-ups.

He has attracted interest from South Australia and Queensland, while Tasmania's captain Daniel Marsh also said the Tigers would love to have him. Rogers is speaking to the Western Australian Cricket Association's chief executive Graeme Wood, the coach Tom Moody and the state match committee chairman Tom Hogan to assess his options.

"There is no way we would like to see him go, he is a critical part of our future," Moody told AAP. "He is highly regarded in this state, his record speaks for itself. Hopefully after those discussions with him he will be with us and looking forward."

Rogers, who holds a Cricket Australia contract, was named State Player of the Year in 2006-07 and made his Test debut at home in Perth this season. However, despite another solid Pura Cup season in which he made 744 runs at 43.76, Rogers is continually overlooked for limited-overs games and made only two FR Cup appearances this summer.

A move to Adelaide would be a major coup for South Australia, whose top order has struggled severely since Darren Lehmann's retirement. Queensland have also lost an experienced key batsman in Jimmy Maher, while Rogers could be a direct replacement for Tasmania's departing opener Michael Di Venuto.

Western Australia have also lost a top-order veteran with the retirement of Justin Langer, who was a regular one-day player for the state, and his absence might open a door for Rogers in the shorter format. Langer hopes whatever Rogers decides he does not let the matter drag on for too long.

"It will be good for him to move on and the WACA to move on, whichever way he chooses to go," Langer said. "If he wants to stay - and I would like to see him stay - then that is great, but if he decided he is not going to then he should make his decision."

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