Australia Call for Beer

The news that the Australian team have called for Beer in the wake of their Adelaide mauling at the hands of England comes as no surprise. That is until you find out that the Beer in question is actually a 26 year old left-arm spinner who has 5 first-class games to his name. I think the other kind of beer might be of more use to them.

Of course there is no guarantee that shock selection Michael Beer will play. I think Australia will plump for a 4 man pace attack with Smith and Watson to supplement it. Although even if Beer does not earn his baggy green next week, his selection in the squad still hints of desperation from the selectors. By picking him in the squad they have indicated how little they think of the spin bowling options currently knocking around Australia.

You cannot help but think Beer's selection was almost entirely based on Shane Warne's assessment that "maybe you play a local guy, someone who knows the conditions". Maybe the selectors thought, 'well if we can't have Warney, we might as well select the guy he light-heartedly suggested'. When you consider the fact he has only played 3 first-class games at the WACA and hails from Melbourne, he doesn't even fill Warne's loosely suggested criteria. If he does earn his first cap next week it will have been a meteoric rise. Last season he was plying his trade in Melbourne Grade cricket, for St Kilda, the same club Warne grew up playing for. It seems Beer's decision to move to Western Australia to further his career has proved mightily successful. Not only is he playing domestic cricket but he could be in line to make his international bow. What a move!

There were more changes to the squad that will face England in Perth. Phil Hughes has come in for Simon Katich, the most straightforward swap. Whilst Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus have both come back into the squad. Steve Smith has seemingly replaced Marcus North and should slot in at No.7 with Brad Haddin moving up one place in the order.

The selection of Johnson seems a strange one. They dropped him so that he could rediscover the groove that made him the worlds most feared bowler. Will this have returned in two weeks of net bowling with Troy Cooley? Doubtful, very doubtful. I can't see what will have changed for Johnson and what will stop him from bowling just as terribly in Perth as he did in Brisbane. Surely someone like Mark Cameron, a bowler who is in form and bowls quick would have been a better option.

The return of Hilfenhaus is less surprising. I thought he was unlucky to be dropped in the first place and he will most likely have the job of utilising the 'Freemantle Doctor' (the strong wind in Perth).

The only thing that remains for Australia to decide now is what the make-up of their bowling attack will be. If they go with Beer, they will have two spinners, not usually the way to go at Perth. If Beer plays it will be a fight between Hilfenhaus and Johnson for the remaining slot. If this were to happen, my guess would be as good as yours as to who would win.

Beer will probably not play at the WACA. All the selectors managed to do by selecting him was showcase the lack of spin options around the country and prove that they are too stubborn to recall Nathan Hauritz.

At the moment nothing is going right for Australia, even when they're not on the pitch.