Australia opener Chris Rogers has provided a timely answer to his critics, ahead of next week's test squad announcement, with a century for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield championship.
The 37-year-old, who was recalled for the first Ashes series last year, half a decade after his test debut, has been under pressure for his place in the side for next month's series against India, after a disappointing showing against Pakistan.
Partnering David Warner, Rogers managed just 88 runs in four innings, as Australia were swept 2-0 by Pakistan, at the United Arab Emirates in October .
In his first outing since his return to Australia, however, the lefthander crafted an innings of 107, for Victoria against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
He added only four runs to his overnight tally on Tuesday morning, before he was caught off the bowling of South Australia quick Joe Mennie, to end his 210-ball knock.
The catch was taken at mid-off by Phil Hughes, the batsman most likely to benefit if Rogers is dropped for the India series, which starts on December 4 in Brisbane.
Hughes, also a lefthanded opener, failed to press his case for a recall for a 27th test appearance, when he made just seven runs in the four-day match.
Named one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year for 2013, after scoring 830 runs in 10 tests against England, Rogers has indicated that a third Ashes series in 2015 could be his swan song.
He missed Victoria's previous Sheffield Shield outing because of his colour blindness, which would have given him problems to pick out the pink ball that Cricket Australia (CA) are testing, in the hope of playing day-night tests in the near future.
