Although a natural right-hander and part-time offspinner, Barney Rogers is primarily a left-handed middle-order batsman, and was called up to the Zimbabwean squad to tour England in 2003. Like Alistair Campbell, Rogers' technique was changed by his father when he was a boy, on the theory that the strongest hand should be at the top of the bat. After leaving school at the end of 2000, Rogers was accepted for the CFX Academy in 2001. He really came to prominence, however, in the 2001 Logan Cup when he batted with remarkable consistency, scoring four fifties and only once failing to reach 20 in the five matches. Those performances, along with promising displays against the touring Indian (2000-01) and West Indian (2001-02) sides, lead to his debut in a one-day international against Pakistan in November 2002. He took a while to find his feet, but struck two classy half-centuries in Zimbabwe's one-day series against Bangladesh in February 2004 - The last series before the dispute between the rebel players and the ZCU came to the fore. Rogers was part of the group of 15 players sacked by the ZCU, but has since been offered a contract by the Zimbabwe board, along with Gavin Ewing and Charles Coventry. He can score fluently all round the wicket, and especially favours the cover drive. He has also represented Zimbabwe at hockey (under-20 level), and in his spare time enjoys a spot of spear-fishing.
Liam Brickhill October 2004

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Jan 31, 2005 Barney Rogers with the Man-of-the-Series award © AFP

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