You might not have heard of him before his international call-up, but anyone watching Michael Beer’s first deliveries in Test cricket surely won’t forget him.
The man selected from nowhere to make his debut as Australia’s 10th spinner since Shane Warne retired was bowling to in-form England opener Alistair Cook in just his third over as an international player.
Cook, the man averaging over 100 in this summer’s Ashes series, top-edged a slog sweep that fell to a delighted Ben Hilfenhaus and the SCG crowd roared for what they believed was the 26-year-old’s maiden Test wicket.
But umpire Billy Bowden spoiled the party, referring to the third umpire for what he suspected was a no-ball.
Replays showed Beer had overstepped and the fairytale chapter in the story of Australia’s 418th Test cap was scratched from the record books.
Australian all-rounder Mitchell Johnson said it would be the team’s duty to make sure Beer doesn’t dwell on the costly mistake.
“The boys were upbeat with him and consoled him and I think we’ve got to keep doing that tonight, just be around him and make sure he doesn’t think about it too much,” Johnson said.
“You could see the reaction on his face when he was called for it.
“It was a big moment for him and he did come out and continued to bowl well after that and credit to him.”
But while Beer was denied on this occasion, the second day’s play in the fifth Ashes Test completed his transition from unknown cricketer to fully-fledged Australian player and suggested there might be something more to him than just an easily punned surname.
Because after carrying the drinks in Perth and Melbourne, this was the first occasion most inside the ground or watching on their TVs at home had seen of Beer on a cricket pitch.
It took 30 overs of England’s first dig before skipper Michael Clarke chucked the Kookaburra his way, but just 14 balls into his spell he’d made his impression.
Greeted with a hearty cheer, Beer began by taking on England star Kevin Pietersen, the man who supposedly has an issue with left-hand spinners, and was immediately dispatched through the off-side for four.
But from there he steadied into his rhythm and, if not for a matter of inches, would have been the toast of the SCG by removing the limpet-like Cook from the crease.
The wait for his first Test scalp, and just the 17th of his fledging first class career, goes on but at least Beer had the joy of catching Pietersen late in the day when the South African-born batsman skied a hook shot off Mitchell Johnson.
It’s a moment he’ll have no matter how long his Test career lasts.
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