Opener says it can be daunting batting with David Warner
Friday 26 December 2014 08:59, UK
Chris Rogers described Steven Smith as “one of the best players in the world” after the Australia skipper scored a crucial half century on day one of the third Test with India.
Smith (72 not out) held the hosts’ innings together in Melbourne, helping his side close on 269-5 after they had previously slipped to 115-3 and 216-5.
The Australia skipper also plundered two hundreds and a fifty during the Baggy Greens’ victories in the opening two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane and Rogers says his team-mate is at the top of his game.
“He is just growing day by day and it's scary to think how good he can be,” Rogers said of Smith, who is standing in for injured regular captain Michael Clarke.
“He knows he's one of the better players in the world at the moment and he’s definitely one of an echelon of batsmen who go above and beyond.
"Someone threw a ball back at him today [Friday] and he had the confidence to say a few words, so it looks as if he knows he belongs and it’s phenomenal to watch.”
Rogers (57) scored his third successive Test fifty at the MCG, having notched 55 in both innings of the previous game in Brisbane.
The 37-year-old was frustrated that he was unable to accrue his fifth Test century at a ground where he made 116 against England in The Ashes exactly 12 months ago
But the left-hander did admit that he “calmed down” after his swashbuckling opening partner David Warner was dismissed for a duck.
"As an opener you do the hard work and put yourself in a good position, so to get out was disappointing because I felt good, my feet were going and I had a real desire to get a big score,” added Rogers.
I'm not stupid enough to think that I own a place in this side and it's still a privilege.
"I know it probably doesn't seem like it but there are times it can be a little bit intimidating batting with Davey [Warner].
"He scores so quickly that you can look up and think: ‘I'm not scoring quick enough or I'm not being aggressive enough’.
"So at times I've probably got out trying to force it a little bit up the other end from Davey. Maybe it helps me just calm down a little bit after he gets out but it's not a bad trait, I guess."
