Brad Haddin returns to action in Derby

For the second time in as many months, Australia opener Chris Rogers’ availability for an upcoming Test match is in doubt due to the ongoing effects of a blow to the head sustained while batting.

Rogers was forced to retire hurt during his innings on the final morning of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s last Sunday after suffering a severe dizzy spell, at the height of which he told his batting partner David Warner the Pavilion at the famous ground appeared to be moving.

Australia opener Chris Rogers has retired hurt on 49 on the morning of day four, suffering what looked to be a dizzy spell

It came two days after he was struck while batting in Australia’s first innings, with the blow and the subsequent impact absorbed by his protective batting helmet leaving him with a small cut behind his left ear but no other visible symptoms to cause immediate concern.

However, the 37-year-old suffered two recurrences of the dizziness in the days that followed his retirement even though an MRI scan taken on Sunday evening cleared him of concussion or any resultant brain injury.

And while most of his teammates have travelled to Derby for a three-day tour match beginning tomorrow, Rogers has remained in London to undergo further examination from specialists.

He has been diagnosed with a vestibular injury which has affected his inner ear and consequently his balance, and while he has shown significant improvement since the incident he has spent recent days resting.

Chris Rogers watching play after retiring hurt // Getty Images

A decision on his availability for the third Test starting at Edgbaston on Wednesday won’t be made for several days.

“If he continues to improve the way he does, he should be back playing cricket fairly soon,” Australia Bupa Support Team Doctor Peter Brukner said today.

“But as to exactly when, we can't say.

“We certainly haven't ruled him out of next week's Test, it's just a matter of seeing how he goes over the next 48 hours.

“But at this stage we're optimistic he'll be able to play next week.”

It was initially feared the issue was a delayed reaction caused when Rogers was hit behind the left ear by a bouncer from England fast bowler James Anderson on the second morning of the Test last Friday, which was cause for concern given the opener’s recent history.

After making his way to 158 on day one, Chris Rogers received a rude awakening with the first ball of day two at Lord's

But while subsequent tests have ruled out any link between his current condition and the blow he suffered while batting in the nets at Dominica last month – with the resultant concussion sidelining him from both Tests in the Caribbean – Rogers has yet to receive a clean bill of health.

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He has been cleared of any small fractures behind his ear, but he continues to feel “washed out” and today visited a London specialist whose area of expertise is vestibular injury.

The specialist confirmed the diagnosis of damage to the “vestibular apparatus” which was responsible for the dizziness, but also ordered further tests to be conducted tomorrow and again on Friday to try and pinpoint the source of the problem and identify if there has been nerve damage.

“(These) are basically balance tests,” Brukner said.

“There are different components of the vestibular and balance system and there's various tests that can identify which of these components is working and which one is damaged.

“He'll also have some treatment, there's a physiotherapist who specialises in this area who is going to see him on Friday.

“There are various techniques they can use to help resolve some of these issues.

“He seems to be improving very steadily and it's a little bit early to say what's going to happen.

“But he's basically resting in his room, reading his Kindle. He's just taking it easy for a couple of days.

“You manage this really similarly to the way you manage a concussion, you basically wait until the symptoms have resolved and once the symptoms have resolved, you start increasing the activity.”

Chris Rogers celebrates his Lord's ton // Getty Images

Having scored a Test career-high 173 in the first innings at Lord’s, Rogers was not scheduled to play the tour match against Derbyshire and it’s likely he will meet up with the team in Birmingham where they travel on Sunday to finalise their preparations for the third Test.

If he is feeling up to full training, he is likely to undergo a wide range of practice drills to ensure there is no recurrence of the dizziness before medical staff pass him fit to play in such a crucial game.

For the time being, Brukner said the veteran left-hander is simply thankful to know that the problem he is currently battling with is not related to the concussion that threatened to curtail his farewell tour, having announced this Ashes series will be his last as a Test player.

“Obviously he's relieved it's not a concussion injury,” Brukner said.

“It's fair to say that was a concern he had and we all had, given his recent history and so on.

“But that has certainly been ruled out.

“Obviously it's a similar mechanism and he's been hit in both cases, but it's a completely different injury.

“It should resolve and there's no reason to think there will be any ongoing issues with this balance problem.”

WATCH: A moment of history as @CricketAus' @SteveSmith49 & Chris Rogers are placed on the Honours Board #LoveLords https://t.co/ODi507yQj3 — Lord's Ground (@HomeOfCricket) July 22, 2015