Gritty Victorian opener Chris Rogers scored a ton of patience which compels Test selectors to return the favour.

Rogers struck 103 not out for the Bushrangers against South Australia on Monday which will likely save his Test career.

The 37-year-old anchored Victoria’s 1-201 in reply to South Australia’s 8(dec)-431 on day two of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

Rogers faced 190 deliveries in his patient knock, which comes as his Test opening berth is under question.

The left-hander’s poor recent series against Pakistan returned 88 runs at an average of 22, leading to some critics calling his axing from the Test team.

But Rogers has replied with his only currency – runs – ahead of the four-Test series against India starting on December 4.

And he did it in customary determined style – never flashy, but ever-reliable.

Rogers grafted his 71st first-class century. The most animated he became during the knock was when his opening partner Rob Quiney was given out for 52.

The pair produced a 130-run opening stand which ended when Quiney got a leading edge to an Adam Zampa legspinner.

The ball floated back to Zampa who claimed a low-down catch.

Rogers thought the ball didn’t carry to Zampa and repeatedly gesticulated his belief, initially to South Australians and then umpires.

But Rogers’ protests were to no avail, yet he soon regained his calm demeanour to blunt SA’s bowlers.

Earlier, the Redbacks declared some 20 minutes before lunch with Callum Ferguson top-scoring with 140 and Tim Ludeman making 106, his second first-class ton.

After the centurions were out, Redbacks captain Johan Botha (40 not out), Joe Mennie (36) and Adam Zampa (33 from 12 balls) went on a quest for rapid runs – SA scored 127 runs in 100 minutes in the morning session.

Test quick Peter Siddle was the pick of the Bushrangers’ bowlers, taking 2-54 from 23 overs, with Chris Tremain (2-81) and spinner Jon Holland (2-92) other multiple wicket-takers.