PERTH: Australian spin maestro Shane Warne believes Australia have made a mistake in overlooking Michael Beer for the third Ashes Test in Perth and instead electing to field a four-man pace attack, with the slow bowling duties left to all-rounder Steve Smith.
Warne wrote on his Twitter account: “Very, very surprised Australia playing five quicks and Smith … No Beer is a big surprise,” wrote Warne on his Twitter account.
“Three quicks, Watson, Smith and Beer gives Ricky variety and plenty of options. Beer is a specialist spinner. You need one in Perth.”
The move is not without precedent but the last time Australia omitted a specialist spinner at the Waca it did not end well. In Jan 2008, Australia recalled Shaun Tait at the expense of Brad Hogg to face India. It backfired for the Australians, with Tait failing to take a wicket as India claimed victory by 72 runs.
Captain Ricky Ponting on that occasion had assumed the flat track would hold firm and offer life for the quicks to exploit. It didn’t.
Faced with an even greener wicket this week, Ponting is now backing Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris and Ben Hilfenhaus to take the 20 wickets needed for victory.
Warne is not alone in thinking Australia may rue that decision.
“I can’t believe they’ve gone in without Michael Beer,” said former opening batsman Mark Taylor.
“The Aussies have missed a trick here by not picking Beer and giving themselves some options to take wickets on day three and four.”
It is a sign of how far Australia have fallen since Warne retired that the selection debate revolves around an ordinary bowler with just five first-class matches for Western Australia to his name who may now never turn out for his country.
It is in stark contrast to England’s settled bowling attack that seamlessly accommodated one change when Stuart Broad was ruled out of the series injured.
Chris Tremlett got the nod ahead of Tim Bresnan and promptly took three Australian wickets to help England dismiss Australia for just 268 on the first day.
