THERE has been no war of words yet between Chris Rogers and soon to be Ashes rival Steven Finn.
Rogers got his much speculated about call up when the Aussie squad for cricket’s oldest and biggest clash was revealed earlier today, meaning the man used to unleashing Middlesex’s chief strike bowler on the opposition’s top order will instead have to deal with the threat from 22 yards himself later in the summer.
Finn is never usually short of a word or two of wind up.
However, the 35-year-old Seaxes skipper revealed thus far he had received just a text of congratulation from England’s fastest quick, so hostilities it seems can wait.
Rogers is under no illusions the battle will be fierce should they both make their respective XI’s at Trent Bridge come July 10.
He said: “There is a friendly banter between Steven and I, but there has been no wind up texts so far. He sent me a nice message to be fair – we are quite close.
“Finny will be a formidable test. I played against him a few times when I was with Derbyshire and it has been great to see his progression.
“He is one of the best in the world now when he is on song, but that is all part of the challenge of an Ashes series and I am looking forward to it.”
The left-hander has spent five long years in the wilderness since his one and only Test Match against India in 2008 where he failed twice and promptly lost his central contract just three months later.
He admits there have been times in the interim where he lost all hope of a recall and that to finally get the shout now in the twilight of his playing years is the ‘culmination of his career’.
He added: “I guess that is a nice way to put it.
“At the back end of my career when I had given up hope of adding to my one Test cap another opportunity has come along.”
