THIS may be Chris Rogers' last season with Derbyshire.

It is not out of the question that common sense may prevail and the criteria may change again but, as government regulations stand, the Australian batsman will not be granted a visa for 2011 because he has not played enough international cricket.

But if this is to be an enforced farewell for the 32-year-old, he wants it to be the year Derbyshire succeed or fail by his decisions.

There will be a subtle switch in the balance of power at the County Ground this summer.

After a first full season of establishing what has become a good working relationship, head of cricket John Morris will hand over a greater share of responsibility for team affairs to the captain, Rogers.

"This will be Chris Rogers' team and that is how it should be," said Morris.

"He has had his bedding-in period and he asked me to pick the side last season but now the final decisions will go to the captain."

Rogers is relishing the prospect and said the lingering danger of being unable to return next year will not influence his approach to the job.

"I'm not really worried about that," he added. "If it is my last year, so be it, but I'd like to do things my way and see how they go.

"My motivation is to have the team do well. Obviously, I would like to do well and that would be good for the side but I would like to take more responsibility on this year as captain and make it my side.

"If that's going to happen and we have success, that will make me very happy.

"I have a fantastic relationship with John and he's happy for me to take on more responsibility with the side. It should be a good challenge."

Responsibility appears to sit comfortably on Rogers' shoulders. It did not noticeably affect his batting last season. His 1,461 first-class runs was the fourth-highest tally in the country and his 73.05 average was the second-highest in the county's history.

Rogers took that form back to Australia with Victoria in the winter but injury and illness marred the last three months of his campaign Down Under.

"I got a 140 in a one-day game and then got a good 94 not out in the second innings against New South Wales," he said.

"Then we had Christmas and I played a local game and broke my hand. After that, things didn't go well.

"I got very sick in one game and spent a night in hospital and then broke my finger. I didn't play a lot of cricket but that might not be a bad thing, I suppose.

"It got a bit frustrating but it's good to be back here and the feeling among the guys is the best I've seen. It's been excellent and it's given me a new lease of life really.

"This is not to say the guys before haven't been good but I just think we've got a bit of desperation to do well this year. We've done well for a while and I think guys are starting to believe.

"They don't want to be nearly men and I've been really impressed by that. A couple of those guys in mid-range have already stepped up and said they are going to be the man this year and that's good for us."

Rogers believes the signing of South African spinner Robin Peterson gives Derbyshire the ingredient they were missing through a good but ultimately fruitless 2010.

But he added that the real key to success this season will not come down to individuals.

"Bringing Robin to the club has the potential to be an exceptional signing. If he has a good year, I can't see how we won't have some success," said Rogers.

"We've been trying to find a guy who could do that job with the ball for at least as long as I've been here, so to have someone you can rely on to bowl decent spin, especially left-arm into the rough, is going to be huge for us.

"It can keep us in control in the game and that's very important. But I've told the guys the focus is really going to be on the team this year and hopefully that will drive us towards something good.

"We all have our personal goals but until Derbyshire do well as a side, these guys won't get recognised and I think they are starting to believe that as well."