CHRIS ROGERS, South Wilts' major signing in the defence of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League Championship, may have to wait until next Tuesday before he takes his bow on the local cricket scene.

The Australia A and Western Australia left-hander is named in South Wilts' team against Bashley (Rydal) on Saturday.

But, with the BCG waterlogged following heavy rain, Rogers will probably make a delayed debut in Wiltshire's C & G Trophy first round tie against Kent at Lower Bemerton on Tuesday (10.45am).

Rogers has been specially registered by Wiltshire for the C & G Trophy.

The arrival of Rogers on the Salisbury cricket scene came as much of a surprise to South Wilts' skipper Rob Wade as anyone else.

"Alan Kruger, the South African all-rounder who played for us last summer, was unable to commit for this season, which left us - rather late in the day - without an overseas player," Wade explained.

"I got in touch with Hampshire's James Tomlinson, who was playing Grade cricket for South Perth at the time, and Chris's name cropped up.

"I contacted him without any expectation and was surprised that he was keen to come over and play for us."

Wade acknowledges that South Wilts could lose their star Australian as quickly as he came.

"Chris wants to be here in case the offer of a short-term county contract comes up - and that could happen before or during the Ashes Series. One thing's for sure - there was no way we were going to turn him down," Wade said.

Rogers, 28, played 11 County Championship games for Derbyshire last season, scoring 156 against Durham and 87 off the Hampshire attack at the Rose Bowl.

He would have scored many more but for a remarkable run of injuries.

The ginger-haired batsman, left, suffered a broken finger, a shoulder injury and ankle ligament trouble before receiving a broken thumb and a facial injury in one ball!

In his comeback game following his ankle problem, Rogers was hit on the glove and the ball smacked into his face with the end result being eight stitches above an eye.

It's in his native Western Australia that Rogers has etched his name, scoring more than 3,500 Pura Cup runs for Western Australia and appearing regularly in Australia's A side in ODIs against touring sides.

Rogers spent the 2003 season playing Birmingham & District Premier League cricket for Shropshire club Wellington.

His 800-plus runs helped Wellington win the title!

The hard-hitting South Perth left-hander follows Luke Ronchi (Bashley-Rydal) and Adam Voges (Bournemouth) as Western Australia State players turning out in the Southern Premier League.