Ashes 2015: Chris Rogers starts out on road to recovery

Chris Rogers returned to Australia colours on Saturday, albeit running drinks in the role of 12th man, as he took the first steps towards proving his fitness to play in next week`s third Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston.

The 37-year-old opening batsman succumbed to a sudden bout of dizziness during the second Ashes Test at Lord`s last Sunday.

There were concerns that Rogers was a victim of delayed concussion, having been struck on the helmet by England paceman James Anderson on the second day of the match. 

But a week of examinations by specialists in London concluded that Rogers was suffering from a balance problem in the inner ear.

Before the third and final day`s play in Australia`s drawn tour match with Derbyshire in Derby on Saturday, Rogers walked round the ground and had a gentle knock-up on the outfield with the bat.

Team doctor Peter Brukner, in a Cricket Australia statement issued prior to play starting on Saturday, said: "Chris continues to improve and has re-joined the team in Nottingham last (Friday) night. 

"He will continue to increase his level of activity over the next couple of days and will be closely monitored by team medical staff."

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who took four wickets on Saturday, said of Rogers: "He`s back to his normal chirpy self. It`s always nice to have `Bucky` around the group. 

"I`m sure he`s feeling much better now, so we`ll have to wait and see. I`m sure he`s going to train over the next few days."At Lord`s, after two overs` play last Sunday, Rogers crouched down by the side of the pitch and then sat motionless before eventually going off on 49 not out. 

Rogers played no further part in Australia`s crushing 405-run win, which levelled the series at 1-1, having helped establish their strong position at Lord`s with a Test-best 173 in the first innings. 

He was not scheduled to play against Derbyshire in any event and now has a few more days to prove his fitness for international cricket ahead of Wednesday`s start at Birmingham`s Edgbaston ground.

Australia do have a back-up opener in their squad in Shaun Marsh, Mitchell`s older brother, who is yet to feature in an Ashes match although he has appeared in 14 Tests.

Shaun Marsh has been in superb form so far this tour, with two hundreds in three innings.

The 32-year-old made 114 in the tour opener against Kent and then, after being left out of the side that played Essex, 101 and 30 against Derbyshire -- where in both innings he was retired out to give some of his team-mates time in the middle.

Shaun Marsh, in particular is following in his father`s footsteps as Geoff Marsh was an Australia opening batsman.

Rogers, who plans to retire after the Ashes, missed Australia`s recent 2-0 series win in the Caribbean because of concussion after being hit on the head while batting in the nets, with Shaun Marsh taking his place for both matches.