Even shock selection Michael Beer could not believe Australia had taken one of the all-time gambles and picked him for the third Ashes Test in Perth.
Last summer Beer, 26, was playing grade cricket – on Friday the unheralded left-arm spinner was digesting the news that he had earned a baggy green after only five first-class games.
“I was a little bit surprised and I don’t think it really sank in until I rang my parents and actually blurted it out myself and thought hang on, what’s going on here?’” Beer said in Brisbane.
Beer, Phil Hughes and allrounder Steve Smith replaced the axed trio of Marcus North, Doug Bollinger and Xavier Doherty for the Perth Test starting on Thursday.
While Hughes and Smith had been in the mix, Beer’s inclusion is the biggest stunner since Peter “Who” Taylor was given a baggy green cap against England in 1986-97.
Beer only made his first-class debut two months ago after leaving Melbourne club St Kilda and heading west to Perth in a bid to break into the state scene.
“Twelve months ago I probably wasn’t a professional cricketer, that’s in all facets,” Beer said.
“Then Western Australia gave me the opportunity under (coach) Mickey Arthur and they’ve been really great and backed me.”
Australia’s chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch did not think Beer’s selection smacked of desperation.
“The reality is, he’s got no international experience and it’s a big call from us to throw him into this position,” he said.
“Michael Beer has, I suppose, come from nowhere.
“(But) we think a left-arm orthodox spinner is the right thing both for the Ashes but also for our future.”
Beer’s first-class average is a modest 16 wickets at an average of 39.93.
He was tipped this week by Shane Warne, a former St Kilda teammate.
“I just laughed it off a bit but it’s nice when someone of his calibre throws your hat in the ring,” Beer said.
“I think I played four games with him (at St Kilda), basically when he was just playing Test cricket and came back for a few weeks.
“I got dropped for him a couple of times as well so that was interesting.
“(And) I was lucky enough to go to the Centre of Excellence in April and May and he was up there for that – he’s been good.”
Hughes replaced injured opening bat Simon Katich in another punt by selectors facing the prospect of a series defeat with another loss in Perth.
The NSW left-hander, with just 201 Sheffield Shield runs this season at an average of 22.33, will enter the Test with his most recent scores being four and a duck in the Shield game which ended on Friday.
“All I know is I’ll have a smile on my face (come Thursday), any cricket I’m going to play I’m going to enjoy it – I’m over the moon to be back amongst the guys,” Hughes said.
Smith will take Marcus North’s spot at No.6 in the batting order, with one of the four-strong fast bowling brigade – Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus – to carry the drinks.
“It’s great to be spoken about but I guess it’s putting your performances on the board,” Smith said.
jameswm
Roar Guru
what a huge shame Katich isn't fit. He'd be the one who should take over. Wrong place, wrong time...
Danno1
Guest
From what I have heard there was a massive blow-up from Ricky Ponting after finding out Johnson was dropped.....I have been advised it was enormous....Ponting was close to being dropped there and then. My whispers have told me if the team lose in Perth, planning is underway for Haddin to take over as captain, with Ponting the option to continue as batsman only. Seems it is an unhappy unit at the moment, I hope they can lift for Perth and give this series a shake, but Ricky will have to play the innings of his life.
Fisher Price
Guest
Johnson gets special treatment; that much is clear.
jameswm
Guest
I've got a big athletics background - and if they don't bowl more than 18 balls flat out in a training session, how do they get match fit? Only by playing matches? How do they get their body strong? If you're going to run say a 1500m, you'll do a 45-60 minute run every weeek, and do say 5 x 800 at 1500 pace in a session - a total of 4km at 1500 pace. Surely the same sort of principles apply to training your body for bowling? They could do say 4 sessions of 20 balls with 10 mins' rest in between?
Oracle
Guest
From the selected squad, you bat either Haddin or Smith at 6 and 7, doesn't matter who, as long as we have a number 6 who will impose himself on the game to the opposition, not go out within 20 minutes or take all day to make 70......... How they miss McDonald batting at anywhere from 6 to 8 due to a broken hand. Funny that, we were winning when McDonald was playing!?!?!?!?! Glad they left Horritz out.
Oracle
Guest
The most bizarre thing about the selection is that Mitchell Johnson is in the squad after doing absolutely nothing more than bowl in the nets for a couple of days. Having heard Tim Nielsen at a coaches course say that they only bowl 18 balls flat out at training per session, it makes even less sense. Everyone else who didn't play in the last Test side, whose state is playing a game this weekend is playing If he is picked, then that is the bizarre selection........along with his right arm, he hasn't bowled anything resembling well since suffering from ink poisoning
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
I hope he isn't 12th Man as that means Johnson will be wasting everyones time with his inability to bowl any sort of line or length. He has bowled like a 12 year old for the last year, but Hilditch & Co believe that a few net sessions will sort him out. What dirt does he have on Hilditch and Sutherland...?
jameswm
Guest
I don't think it's that much of a gamble, because Beer won't be in the XI anyway - they're just saving on the airfare of sending Hauritz or SOK over. Instead those two will be playing for NSW at Blacktown gainst Qld. Don't know what sort of message it would send Beer, to be 12th man for one squad then dumped for Melbourne after not getting a game. I wonder if they've thought that through (that's a rhetorical question...)
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
Smith is the right selection, but for the wrong reason. He needs to be selected to bat 8 and work on seriously developing his bowling. By being selected at 6 the message is we want you to bat (firstly) and then take a few overs here and there ... develop your batting and work your way up the order. We already have a number 5 bowler in Watson, a number 6 in Clarke and (when fit) I could never understand why Katich didn't get a few more overs. We don't need someone coming in a 6 who is "growing into" becoming a batsman. We need someone we can expect to slot into the team and quickly become our number 4/5 when Ponting and Hussey retire.
The Clint
Guest
Couldn't agree more! I've been begging for Smith, O'keefe, Copeland to be called in....... No I'm not from NSW!! Lol
Chris
Guest
On a WACA pitch which favours pace they could have chosen between these two players as their young bolter: Trent Copeland: 10 Games, 59 wickets @ 18.89. Best Bowling 8/92. Economy Rate 2.56 Michael Beer: 5 Games, 16 wickets @ 39.93. Best Bowling 3/39. Economy Rate 3.60 Copeland has more wickets at a better average at a lower economy rate. He is a better bowler than Beer by EVERY measure available. Yet Beer gets picked. The selection of Beer is nothing short of bizarre. There are literally dozens of other bowlers around the country that have a far superior record yet never get anywhere near test cricket. Why do we keep selecting a token spinner who can't bowl over a fast bowler who can? I can only conclude that Hilditch has got it is his head that is it compulsory to select a spinner. If we don't have a spinner good enough for test cricket then we shouldn't select one. Besides, Steve Smith (while selected for his batting) can bowl spin when required. Just yesterday he emerged with match figures of 8/160.
Justin
Guest
The selectors are a farce. We have guys getting games with bowling averages at 40+ yet the ONE guy in the country with an average under 20 can't get a look in. Fall on your sword please, it is beyond laughable.
Lolly
Guest
How is this a huge gamble? He might be crap but he can get in the queue for that label and no-one expects anything from the Aussie spin bowlers anyway. I think Hughes is a bigger gamble, his form is crap and his technique still looks horrible.