SOMERSET cricket captain Chris Rogers was the star speaker at a fund-raising lunch organised by the David Shepherd Cricket Trust.

Batsman Rogers played in 25 Tests for Australia up to 2015, before retiring last year from international cricket.

Around 100 lunch guests at the Exeter Golf & County Club helped raise money for the Trust by hearing Rogers talk about his career in the game.

The talk ranged from the toughest bowlers to bat against – England pair Graham Swann and James Anderton were top of the list – to Rogers time in Devon at the start of his career.

Rogers spent three seasons with North Devon CC and a fourth with Exeter playing Devon League cricket before his pro career took off.

Jack Davey, one of the charity’s trustees, said the lunch was a social success as well as a financial boost for the work of the Trust.

“Chris spoke well and it was interesting to hear his thoughts on playing Test cricket and his time in Devon as a youngster,” said Davey.

“A number of his old friends from North Devon and Exeter were at the lunch and there was plenty of catching up going on after the formal part of the day was over.

“We won’t know for a day or two what we raised from the lunch, but we were donated some fantastic prizes for a raffle that raised £760 and overall we expect the total to be around £2,000.”