Victorian coach Chris Rogers has penned a contract extension, lengthening his tenure by two years.<\/p>\n
Rogers took over in August 2020, leading the Vics to three Sheffield Shield finals and a One Day Cup decider in that time with a homegrown core.<\/p>\n
Victoria was the best team of the recent Shield season but fell at the final hurdle against South Australia.<\/p>\n
The Vics had the three youngest players in that final, headlined by Ollie Peake who has just been elevated into the Australian white-ball squad.<\/p>\n
Rogers\u2019 term as coach has been underpinned by a focus on developing born-and-bred Victorians.<\/p>\n
Since 2021, the Vics have had only two contracted players arrive from interstate: the returning Peter Siddle and one-day hit man Josh Brown.<\/p>\n
Peake\u2019s rise, alongside developing opener Campbell Kellaway, has been viewed internally as an example of Rogers\u2019 vision of producing international players.<\/p>\n
The ever-consistent Fergus O\u2019Neill has also put himself in the frame for a national call-up after rejecting several lucrative offers to move interstate.<\/p>\n
Victorian head of male cricket David Hussey said Rogers was one of the reasons many of the state\u2019s young talents turned their back on rival interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt probably speaks of the environment Chris and his coaching staff have created,\u201d Hussey said a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all want to improve, they all want to be part of the sustained success we\u2019re trying to set the male program up for.\u201d<\/p>\n
The extension keeps the former Australian Test opener at Junction Oval until the end of the 2027-28 season.<\/p>\n
Victoria recently named its contract list for 2026-27, swapping Jai Lemire, Xavier Crone and Callum Stow for Harry Hoekstra, Tom Paddington and Aryan Sharma.<\/p>\n