Beer not qualified for the job, says MacGill

Despite having played just five first class matches, left-arm spinner Beer was included in the 12-strong squad for the Perth Test as Australia overhauled their squad in the wake of an innings and 71-run defeat to England in Adelaide.

“I am gobsmacked, shocked, I honestly cannot believe it,” MacGill told Sydney's Daily Telegraph. “Good on Michael Beer, good bloke and good player, but look at this as a job interview and show me his qualifications to get this job.

“He doesn't have any. He is not qualified for the job they have given him. Sending him out there next week, what are they trying to do?”

MacGill's opportunities to play Test cricket were severely limited by playing at the same time as Shane Warne but he did manage 208 wickets in 44 Tests from 1998 to 2008. “They are clearly telling Nathan Hauritz, ‘you are never playing Test cricket again’. I don't understand that. Xavier Doherty should never have played the first two Tests. Michael Beer shouldn't be playing this one.”

The fact Beer has taken only 16 first class wickets at an average of just under 40 since he moved from Victoria to Western Australia indicated that chief selector Andrew Hilditch was out of touch, MacGill said. “To be honest, from Andrew Hilditch's comments, he doesn't even really know who Michael Beer is. He said he'll bowl well in Perth because it's his home ground. I'm not sure Andrew thought those comments through before he made them. Look, Andrew Hilditch is a lovely bloke but someone needs to tell him Michael Beer has not spent his career playing at the WACA.

“Three games there and nothing better than a three-for. Honestly, there is no big picture here.”