Young opener makes an impressive start to BBL career after 'whirlwind' 24 hours
Rogers making the most of unusual BBL call-up
Tom Rogers was preparing to attend a wedding on Sunday, instead the Ringwood cricketer was opening the batting for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL.
With COVID-19 sweeping through the Stars' camp, the 22-year-old was plucked out of Victorian club cricket to make his Big Bash debut.
The Ringwood Cricket Club recruit showed no fears against the dominant Perth Scorchers, putting on a 78-run first-wicket stand with Englishman Joe Clarke.
Rogers smashed five boundaries, including one giant six, in his knock of 32 from 25 balls at Melbourne's Junction Oval on Sunday.
Ringwood CC's Tom Rogers was one of FOUR debutants called up by the @StarsBBL to bolster their stocks - and he rose to the occasion brilliantly! 🙌 #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/JrxQpOqVoQ— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 2, 2022
"It all happened so fast so it's been a whirlwind 24 hours and definitely wasn't expecting it," he told Fox Cricket.
"(The Scorchers) have a couple of blokes who bowl really fast and never faced any of that before.
"I was with my lovely girlfriend in the pool at one of our friend's house and I had to get out because I saw a call coming on my watch.
"I was supposed to be at (Ringwood's) David King's wedding (on Sunday) so shattered to miss out on that but everyone from the club has been really good."
Rogers will get at least one more shot in the BBL, with the Stars to play the Renegades in Monday night's Melbourne derby at the MCG.
The left-hander was among six cricketers rushed into the squad after 10 Stars players tested positive for COVID-19 in a chaotic lead-up to the match.
Eight staff members also remain in isolation after returning positive PCR tests.
Key players including Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Beau Webster are among the Stars on the sidelines.
Clarke, who has hit top form after a slow start to the BBL, immediately felt at ease batting with Rogers despite the pair meeting only hours before the match.
"I don't know his background or how much cricket he's played, but he looked like he was at home," Clarke said.
"You've got two international bowlers up front there and he took it on.
"He showed whoever is in charge of Cricket Victoria and the two (BBL) franchises in Melbourne, he's a talent to be looked at."