Beer’s selection surprises Hughes
Former selector and fast bowler Merv Hughes is surprised at the selection of left arm spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Beer-c1949 for the third Ashes test at the WACA in Perth.
Hughes who was part of the selection committee until recently stated that he was not sure how Beer got the nod as, during his stint in the national selection committee, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Western-Australia-c865 spinner was not even on the fringe of selection for the test or
limited overs formats.
The left arm spinner has played only a few matches for his state team in first class cricket, his performance has been satisfactory at best with a best of a 3 wicket haul.
He added that not long ago Beer was not even in the reckoning for the ongoing series as leg spinner Steven Smith and O'Keefe were hailed as possible replacements for the out of form off spinner Nathan Hauritz whose career took a plunge after the poor tour
of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 where he was taken for runs by the prolific Indian batsmen.
"I must admit I was a little bit blown away by it," Hughes told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Having been in the selection system for the last five years you know the process that they watch the games and obviously he's impressed the selectors at the games
he's played this year. I actually didn't hear the team. Someone said a left-armer from WA had been picked, I actually thought it might have been http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Aaron-Heal-c882."
"Three weeks ago when he wasn't picked for the Australian A team they couldn't have been thinking about him then because they played [Steve] Smith and O'Keefe in that game," Hughes said. "Michael Beer's a huge surprise. I would have thought there would have
been a couple of players in front of him, but I haven't seen games this year."
Hughes also sympathized with the selectors, he observed that cricketing pundits and fans were shouting for replacements in the squad after the Adelaide debacle and it was difficult for them to choose the perfect squad once the panic button had been pushed.
He also wants the media to wait for Beer’s response rather than questioning his selection needlessly and making it tough for him to perform at the highest level against a very formidable opposition that was at the top of its game.
"Since Adelaide everyone's been crying out for change and when they make a change everyone sits back and asks why," Hughes said. "We can't cry out for change then question why it's been done. Give the kid a chance; I hope he goes really
well. I'm surprised but I'm also excited for him."
The third test match is set to start on the 16th of this month, the hosts have been mulling on the possible replacements for Xavier Doherty.
The left arm spinner was left out after ordinary performances in the first two tests where he claimed a mere 3 wickets.
Other than Beer, the other spinner in the squad is all-rounder Steven Smith who impressed more with the bat than the ball in the tour to England where the Aussies played http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in a neutral series.
Smith scored a valiant half century in the second test at Leeds in what was Australia’s first loss in a sequence of defeats. Including the Leeds test, they have now lost four out of the last five tests, with the Gabba test against England
the only draw.
The signs of desperation have appeared in the Aussie ranks, it remains to be seen if they can paper the cracks in time for the Perth test as a loss here would mean the end of the Ashes campaign for Ricky Ponting’s men.
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