Chris Rogers confirms Australia retirement after final Ashes Test
Tuesday 18 August 2015 17:49, UK
Chris Rogers has given final confirmation that he will retire from international cricket after the final Investec Ashes Test.
In May, Rogers stated his intention to call it a day after the current series and now says he is "100 per cent sure" he will represent Australia for the final time at The Oval.
The 37-year-old, who is the tourists' leading run-scorer in this series, confirmed the decision to coach Darren Lehmann, captain Michael Clarke and his teammates in London on Tuesday.
"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," said Rogers, who joins Clarke and Ryan Harris on the list of Australian players who have retired this summer.
"You are never 100 per cent sure, but I felt like this (Test starting at The Oval on Thursday) was the last one.
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"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 this month, would have become Australia's oldest Test player since former captain Steve Waugh if he had chosen to play on for the tour of Bangladesh in October and the Australia summer that follows.
"I'm 38 this month and I feel old - and I think there's other things to do in life," he added.
"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."
Rogers has more than 24,000 first-class runs to his name, including five Test centuries - and a run of seven consecutive 50s for his country earlier this year.
The left-hander is also top of Australia's tour averages, with 437 runs at more than 62 per innings.
"The highs you get (are incredible)," he said.
"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."
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