Border in ’state of shock’ over Beer’s selection for Perth Test

SYDNEY - Former Australian captain Allan Border has said that the selection of left-arm spinner Michael Beer for the third Ashes Test in Perth is a huge surprise.

Beer, who is one of four changes from the Australian team for the Adelaide Test, has played just five first-class matches for Western Australia.

“I’m in a state of shock. I have seen him (Beer) play a couple of one-day games, but look its a huge surprise,” the Guardian quoted Border, as saying.

“It probably takes me back to the last time to when Greg Chappell was last a selector and they picked a guy called Peter Taylor and the headlines greeted that with, ‘Peter who?’

“So. maybe it’s another one of Greg Chappell’s masterstrokes because Peter Taylor came in for that match a real unknown and ended up man of the match, so hopefully it’s the same for young Michael Beer,” he added.

The 26-year-old is the 10th spin bowler and the most unusual to be selected since the retirement of leg-spin legend Shane Warne nearly four years ago. (ANI)