Rogers walks out on Western Australia

	Chris Rogers made his Test debut at the WACA in January, but the ground will no longer be his home venue © Getty Images

Chris Rogers, the opening batsman who made his Test debut in January, has walked out on Western Australia and will continue his career with either Victoria, Queensland or South Australia. The Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) said in a statement Rogers had told the coach Tom Moody he was going to Victoria, but Rogers said he had not yet decided which state would become his new home.

"I just think I need a new challenge, I've got a bit stale here," Rogers told AAP. "I just want to go to a team where I can chase my dream of playing for Australia."

Rogers, who holds a Cricket Australia contract, has reportedly been unhappy with his fringe status in the Western Australia one-day team, which he believed was limiting his chances of further international action. He had a solid Pura Cup season with 744 runs at 43.76 but was chosen for only two FR Cup games in 2007-08, scoring 18 and 12.

Graeme Wood, the WACA chief executive, said in a tersely-worded statement that the team was disappointed Rogers was leaving the state that had helped build him into an international player. "The Warriors team is in the best position it has been for a number of years to challenge for sustained success in all formats of interstate competition," Wood said, "and we are very disappointed that Chris has chosen to continue his career elsewhere.

"WACA board members, senior management and coaching staff have met with Chris on a number of occasions to discuss his future. Many of Chris' Warriors team-mates have also spoken to him in the hope of convincing him to stay for what promises to be an exciting future for WA cricket. It is bewildering that Chris has chosen to walk away from playing regularly at the WACA ground, a ground where he has had so much success as a player on one of the best pitches in Australia."

It was at that venue that he played his first Test three months ago. Rogers, who was born in New South Wales, made his first-class debut for Western Australia in 1998-99 and enjoyed a stellar year there in 2006-07, when he topped the Pura Cup tally with 1202 runs at 70.70.

If he does move to Victoria he will be a valuable addition to a squad that made the Pura Cup final this season. The Bushrangers' opening slots had been their major concern leading up to the decider, with Nick Jewell not reaching the heights of his previous summer and Lloyd Mash and Rob Quiney both struggling to hold down their positions.

However, the Redbacks are also crying out for quality batsmen after their top-order struggles and the departures of Darren Lehmann and Matthew Elliott. Queensland also have some holes to fill, including the one left by their newly retired captain Jimmy Maher.

Tony Dodemaide, the chief executive of Cricket Victoria, said securing Rogers, 30, would be a major boost. "We'd be delighted to have a player of Chris' calibre and experience at the top of the order for the Bushrangers," Dodemaide said. "While negotiations have progressed well, we are yet to reach an agreement with Chris and his management but are hopeful that a deal can be struck in the coming days."

© Cricinfo