DERBYSHIRE captain Chris Rogers is facing a month on the sidelines after fracturing his hand at the weekend.

The prolific left-hander was struck twice on the back of his left hand in a club fixture for Essendon in the former gold mining town of Maryborough.

Even though he has been in good form for his state, Victoria, this season, Rogers is not a part of their Twenty20 plans and so was playing for the club to stay in match practice while the Twenty20 Big Bash is dominating the schedule.

X-rays confirmed the fracture yesterday when Rogers returned to Melbourne.

"It was a pretty grassy sort of pitch and a few balls flew around, especially with the new ball," Victorian chairman of selectors John MacWhirter said.

"Unfortunately, he got hit twice on his left hand."

Victoria turn back to the Sheffield Shield and Ford Ranger Cup with a trip to Tasmania on January 27 but Rogers will be out of action.

He is currently the leading run-scorer in the four-day competition, with 456 runs at an outstanding 65.14 average from eight matches.

In the one-day Ford Ranger Cup, Rogers has 274 runs at 39.14 from seven matches but those numbers have still not been enough to earn a recall to the Australia Test side.

Former Derbyshire skipper Simon Katich and Shane Watson is now considered the first-choice opening pair but when Katich was injured for the second Test against Pakistan in Sydney a week ago, Phillip Hughes was chosen ahead of Rogers and is again on stand-by if Katich is unfit for the third Test, starting on Thursday.

Despite being continually overlooked Rogers has never given up hope of adding to his one Test appearance.

"I am pretty disappointed not to be picked but you always are," Rogers said.

"As an opening batsman, there was a spot that became available, so I thought I was a chance but obviously didn't get the call and had to watch from the sidelines."

It was the conversion of all-rounder Watson to opener that has particularly hurt.

"I know Watson adds another string to the side with his bowling, so I know there's those kind of team balances that you've got to be aware of," he added.

"But it is a tough gig opening and it's not an easy one to jump straight in to.

"I still think there's a place for your openers who have done it all their lives."