Cricket: Rogers knows test career on line

Rogers realises more meagre returns will curtail his test career. Photo / AP

Australian opener Chris Rogers says he can't afford more batting failures or his test career will be over.

Rogers says he's feeling the heat to perform as potential replacement Phil Hughes embarks on a domestic run-scoring spree.

Hughes has plundered a double-century and a century in recent Sheffield Shield games as he pushes his claims for an Ashes recall.

Rogers realises more meagre returns such as the one and 16 he made in Australia's first test triumph against England will curtail his test career.

"I didn't contribute in the first game as much as I'd like to so it would be nice to get some runs in this game, for sure," he said in Adelaide yesterday.

"I want to be here the whole series and score runs. That is my job, so I probably can't afford too many failures."

While most of his teammates rested after Australia's series-opening win, Rogers worked tirelessly in the nets to prepare for the second test starting in Adelaide on Thursday.

"I have probably hit the ball a bit better," Rogers said of his form.

"But I was able to do some good work this week and iron out a few flaws. Hopefully I can contribute this week."

Despite predictions of a docile Adelaide pitch for fast bowling, Rogers forecast Australia would continue its plans of unsettling England with short-pitched bowling.

"They probably haven't been challenged like that for a while," he said of the first test. "And to have someone like Mitch [Johnson] bowling that fast is great for us.

"Perhaps they were a little bit rattled and we can use that for the rest of the series."

Rogers also predicted sledging between the sides would continue, describing verbal clashes in the first test as "a lot of fun".

"It was good that we had the upper hand this time - they got into us in England, so it was probably due some going back to them."

- AAP