He is 35 years old. He has opened the batting for Victoria and Western Australia in a lengthy and consistent first-class career.

And like a fine wine, he is getting better with age.

In fact, this batsman’s case for a national team call-up gets more compelling by the month as his sheer weight of runs continue to stack up.

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But this isn’t Chris Rogers in 2013. It’s 2016 – and his name is Michael Klinger.

The batsman, who also had a stint in South Australia, is in a simply outstanding vein of form that surely has him on the minds of selectors.

Last season, he was one of two batsmen in the Sheffield Shield to pass 1000 runs, while he topped the run charts as the Perth Scorchers won the Big Bash League.

And a glorious winter – in which he showed he is far more than a grafter – for English side Gloucestershire followed. Click the graphic below to see more.

“It’s been a great 12 months,” Klinger told The New Daily.

“I’m feeling in good nick and it’s just been enjoyable, playing in some winning teams with WA and in England.

“It’s always more fun when you are playing in winning teams and helping your team get over the line.”

Klinger puts his amazing year down to a more relaxed mindset – and an increased work-rate.

“As I’m getting older, I’m trying to work even harder,” he said.

“I don’t know…maybe some players go the other way and taper off a bit.

Rogers made an outstanding contribution in his second stint at Test cricket. Photo: Getty

“Also, I’ve realised that I’m coming into the last few years of my career and that has helped.

“I’m playing with a bit more freedom and just going out there and enjoying myself.”

Klinger’s age might have been a red flag to selectors in a previous era.

But the Test call-ups of Rogers and Adam Voges – both at 35 – have showed that under Darren Lehmann, Australia select on merit.

Of course, Rogers, who had played just one Test, in 2008, before being recalled, finished with five hundreds and an average of 42.87 in a 25-match career.

His experience, know-how and cool head were integral in David Warner’s development and Klinger can play a similar role with our next generation.

Because, while the names of Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja are hot on the lips of cricket fans, Australia also need some experience in a batting order that will be without Rogers, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin in this Test summer.

“It (selection of Rogers and Voges) shows that runs count, which is great,” he said.

“Everyone in domestic cricket has an opportunity to push their case and I certainly still hold aspirations of playing for Australia.

“I’m also realistic about it as well. I understand that if there’s younger batters out there scoring runs, then they (selectors) are most likely going to go for them, which is the way of the world at the moment.

“But if I’m scoring runs, the time is right and they feel I’m the right person to fit into one of those three (Test, one-day or Twenty20) teams, then great.

“I just need to keep scoring runs in winning teams and that’s going to help, hopefully, one day, help me make my goal of playing for my country.”

Frustratingly for Klinger, his Matador One-Day Cup campaign saw him pass 30 on four occasions for Western Australia – but only finish with a highest score of 64.

And while his average of 35.66 was far from poor, he’ll be hoping for improvement in the Sheffield Shield, which gets underway next week.

Klinger celebrates a Big Bash League century. Photo: Getty

Klinger, who hails the impact coach Justin Langer has had on his career, acknowledges a berth in the New Zealand series is unlikely – but hopes that a mountain of runs will force the hand of selectors later in the summer.

“I think the squad for the first Test series will be picked out of that squad that was picked for Bangladesh,” he said.

“There’s a lot of options there. For me, it’s just about getting more runs to help WA to win games.

“That’s the approach I took last year and I had a good year, in all formats.”

But for now, Klinger’s young team-mate, Bancroft, is likely to open the batting against New Zealand at the ‘Gabba.

And in typically modest fashion, he hopes the 22-year-old does himself proud.

“Cam is one of the hardest working cricketers that I’ve come across in my 17 years in the system,” he said.

“He’s got the temperament to play international cricket and is potentially a 10-year player.

“With someone like Cam, it gives him and Australia, a chance to have a long-serving Test opening batsman. I really hope he gets an opportunity.”

If Bancroft does get the chance, as expected, he needs to play well.

Because snapping at his heels will be a veteran – in the form of his life.