Ashes hopeful Rogers shines for Middlesex

Australian batsman Chris Rogers advanced his Ashes selection hopes with a swashbuckling innings of 184 in Middlesex’s English County Championship match with Sussex at Lord’s today.

Rogers, who made his only Australia appearance six years ago, moved to the top of the run-scoring charts in the process, a month before the first Ashes Test against England gets under way at Trent Bridge.

The 35-year-old left-hander scored 214 against Surrey earlier in the season and looked set for a second double-century, only for his former Western Australia team-mate Steve Magoffin to have him caught by Michael Yardy.

Neil Dexter compounded Sussex’s misery with a knock of 104 after coming in for Rogers, before falling to the final ball before lunch, which arrived with Middlesex on 420 for five.