Loving London

Chris Rogers says he loves his time at Middlesex and is not giving up on returning to the Test arena.

The Australian batsman played a key role in Middlesex promotion to the first division of the County Championship last term and is helping them do well in this year's campaign - much to his surprise!

"The mood in the camp is pretty good - we are doing well in the four dayers particularly," said Rogers on Cricket AM.

"We have had a good start and probably surprised a few people and ourselves.

"I did the Midlands graveyard shift and went through all of those and then I ended up in London - I am pretty happy, it is not the worst spot in the world to live."

Rogers is perfectly placed to give his opinions on the main contrasts between cricket in England and Australia and believes that the English system is suiting him down to the ground.

"It is a different system, you don't play as much back home so at times the intensity is higher but I like the system over here. I like the fact that you are playing a lot and that focus is on the four day game - I think we are losing a bit of that back home, I think the English system is doing quite well.

"I don't think the emphasis is on four day cricket or Test cricket back home. I think with the riches especially with the franchise system, a lot of the players re getting picked for the IPL so there are a couple of guys there who would rather hit the ball over the rope then hit it along the deck, but good luck for them for making some cash."

International ambitions

Rogers' compatriots will tangle with England in a five-match ODI series that begins next week at Lord's so the man from Sydney before back-to back Ashes series start in 2013. And while Rogers does have some doubts about the ODI series, he believes he is not out of the running to add to his one Test appearance in 2008.

"I taught myself how to play four day cricket, the four day game is what I was hoping to play and to play Test cricket for Australia. I reached my dream - it was very brief but it was enjoyable.

"I think previously under Andrew Hilditch [Australian selector] the motto was about youth and development but I think it has come back a bit and is about picking the best side that goes out on the park every week, I have always believed in that, so I guess at the ripe old age of 34 I am still hanging in there.

"I think with some of the new guys coming in for us it would have been nice to have that mystery in the Ashes next year but One Day cricket is arguably dying - people still watch it and go to the game so there is still some support and I guess that is why they are doing it - it is all about the money."