Derbyshire recruit Rogers

Chris Rogers will provide cover for Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene next season

Derbyshire have signed Australian left-hander Chris Rogers as a back-up overseas player to Mahela Jayawardene next season.

Rogers, 30, has agreed to a second spell at the county and will be available to play when Sri Lanka captain Jayawardene is fulfilling his international or early-season Indian Premier League commitments.

The Western Australia opener has also represented Australia A and is considered by many to be a Test cricketer in waiting.

Rogers, who last played for Derbyshire in 2004, has also had stints at Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, for whom he made a double hundred against the touring Australians in 2005.

Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris is delighted to have added another significant acquisition in a close-season recruitment drive which has seen the arrivals of Jayawardene, new captain Rikki Clarke and Wavell Hinds.

“It is great news to have another player of the quality of Chris Rogers joining our playing staff for the coming season,” said former England batsman Morris.

“It was important that we again identified and got the right type of character and player in our dressing room.

“The availability of Mahela Jayawardene depends on the newly-announced Indian Premier League, which is due to start around mid-April and finish at the end of May.”

As of next season, counties will be able to field just one overseas player.

“Chris Rogers will start the season and will play as our overseas player until Mahela Jayawardene arrives towards the end of May - and he will fill in when Mahela has international commitments with Sri Lanka later in the summer,” Morris added.

“With some of the international dates yet to be confirmed, we felt it important to have top-class back-up secured throughout the 2008 season - and that is exactly what we have got with Chris.”