Thaindian News

Sydney, Dec 11 (IANS) Former Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill Saturday lashed out at selectors for including Michael Beer in the squad for the third Ashes Test and said the chosen left-arm spinner is not qualified to get into the national side. MacGill particularly criticised chairman of national selection panel Andrew Hilditch, and said he has “lost the plot” in picking up the squad against arch-rivals England.

“I am gobsmacked, shocked, I honestly cannot believe it,” MacGill was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

“To be honest, from Andrew’s comments, he does not even really know who Michael is. He said he will bowl well in Perth because it is his home ground.”

“I am not sure Andrew thought those comments through before he made them.”

“Look, Andrew is a lovely bloke but someone needs to tell him Michael 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,” MacGill said.

“The team will have to change again after the next Test. Good on Michael, good bloke and good player, but look at this as a job interview and show me his qualifications to get this job.”

“He does not 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?,” said MacGill.

MacGill rated Andrew’s decision to pick Michael and Xavier Doherty ahead of discard spinner Nathan Hauritz as shocking.

“Doherty was out there, too, to be honest,” MacGill said.

“They are clearly telling Nathan, ‘You are never playing Test cricket again’. I do not understand that. Doherty should never have played the first two Tests. Michael should not be playing this one.

“Australia has one fulltime selector now in Greg Chappell. They should all be fulltime selectors because Andrew Hilditch is not watching enough cricket.”

Earlier, spin king Shane Warne had backed Beer’s inclusion in the squad for the Test starting Dec 16.