Rogers needs to make some runs: Lehmann

He knows he’s got to make some runs.

With those words, no-nonsense operator Darren Lehmann succinctly summed up Chris Rogers’ hold on his spot in Australia’s Test side.

Rogers was dismissed for nine and 21 at Adelaide Oval.

Like many in the Test side, Rogers had a mediocre tour of the UAE in October when he failed to pass 50.

Given the amount of experience he has in English conditions, Rogers was expected to bat on until the end of next year’s Ashes series.

But there are renewed calls for the 37-year-old’s yin-and-yang opening partnership with Warner to end sooner than that.

“He is a great foil for David Warner. That’s what I do like, and we like that as a selection panel,” coach Lehmann said, when asked about Rogers on Sunday.

“But like everyone, you’ve got to make some runs.

“He knows he’s got to make some runs. There is no hiding from the fact.

“But he has put on some really good partnerships with David Warner over the last 18 months.”

Rogers has scored over 20,000 first-class runs, making him the perfect sounding board for fellow batsmen in the Test side.

“He has been a great foil behind the scenes – a lot of things you guys don’t see,” Lehmann said.

“So we are really pleased where he’s at, we’d obviously like him to make some more runs though.”

Rogers edged a good ball from Ishant Sharma in the first innings then played a loose sweep shot to legspinner Karn Sharma in the second dig.

Warner backed his opening partner to find form quickly.

“He knows how to score them (runs) and I back him to come out in Brisbane and do that,” he said after day four of the first Test.

The current break in the Sheffield Shield means no other opener can properly press their case for a call-up until the ongoing four-Test series is over.

Ed Cowan has started the Shield season with four tons and would be among the leading candidates to replace Rogers, should selectors decide he is not part of their Ashes plans.

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