Australia dropped three players yesterday and gambled on left-arm spinner Michael Beer after just five first-class games for next week's crucial third Ashes Test against England in Perth
Australia dropped three players yesterday and gambled on left-arm spinner Michael Beer after just five first-class games for next week's crucial third Ashes Test against England in Perth.
Marcus North, Xavier Doherty and Doug Bollinger paid the price for Australia's crushing innings and 71-run defeat to England in this week's second Adelaide Test, while opener Simon Katich was forced out with injury.
Beer, 26, who is playing his first Sheffield Shield season with Western Australia, gets a surprise call-up in Australia's hour of need ahead of former first choice Nathan Hauritz. Selectors admitted they were taking a huge gamble on unheralded spinner Beer, who was last season playing club cricket, for the make-or-break Test against England.
Beer along with Phillip Hughes and all-rounder Steve Smith were summoned for the Perth Test starting on Thursday. But there was no place for spin legend Shane Warne, with some fans and media calling for the 41-year-old to make a sensational albeit unlikely return.
"The reality is, he's got no international experience and it's a big call from us to throw him into this position," Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said of Beer's call-up. "But everything we get back is (he is) someone who is going to handle that pressure, which is critical."
Hilditch denied Beer's selection, the biggest stunner since Peter Taylor was given a baggy green cap against England in 1986/97, was desperate. "We think a left-arm orthodox spinner is the right thing both for the Ashes but also for our future," said Hilditch, adding Beer would play in the third Test.
"Michael Beer has, I suppose, come from nowhere. But he has had a good start to the domestic season, someone we were very interested in even before the season started with some really good feedback from our talent management system and people in WA."
Beer played against England in their tour opener last month, taking 3-108 and 2-99. His first-class average is a modest 16 wickets at an average of 39.93, with all his games coming since crossing to Western Australia from Melbourne.
