MELBOURNE: Australia has sprung a surprise by picking untried spinner Michael Beer in a revamped 12-man squad for the third Ashes Test starting in Perth next week. Beer, who has taken just 16 First Class wickets at an average nudging 40 since making his debut two months ago, replaces fellow left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty, dropped after being flayed by England's bats in the second Test in Adelaide. “Michael is a left-arm orthodox spinner who has been very impressive at domestic level this year,” selectors chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a statement Friday. “He took wickets against England in the tour match earlier this summer and we expect he will bowl very well against the English on his home ground.” Beer will join retained pacemen Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris in the attack, but Doug Bollinger has been dropped after struggling for fitness in the heat in Adelaide. Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus, both of whom were dropped following poor performances in the first Test in Brisbane, will vye for the last vacant bowling spot. “Both Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus did not play in Adelaide but will be strongly considered for selection in the Perth Test match where conditions will suit them.” said Hilditch. All-rounder Steven Smith also replaces out-of-form number six Marcus North, who was widely expected to be dropped after failing again at Adelaide. Phillip Hughes has replaced injured opening batsman Simon Katich and will face a big pyschological test at Perth after he was bullied out of the side by England's quicks during Australia's losing Ashes series last year. Australia's decision to ignore off-spinner Nathan Hauritz and Doherty's failure to make any impact in the first two Tests, prompted Beer's former St. Kilda club teammate Shane Warne to tip the youngster for a Test spot. Team: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice captain), Michael Beer, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Phillip Hughes, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Shane Watson. England fumbles A sloppy England dropped five catches then forced a Victorian bowler to remove his headband during an eventful start to the three-day tour game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Friday. Victoria declared its first innings at 216-2 with opener Michael Hill unbeaten on 105 after being dropped four times in his five-hour knock. David Hussey was 67 not out from 104 balls. He was dropped on 43. England reached 50-1 at the close with skipper Andrew Strauss unbeaten on 17 and Ian Bell on six. Ashes Test star Alastair Cook (27) had demanded Victorian paceman Jayde Herrick remove a black sweatband around his bald head in the fourth over of the innings. It appeared the headband was distracting Cook. Two captains England has named two captains for its series of shortened matches against Australia - Andrew Strauss for the seven-match one-day series and Paul Collingwood for the two Twenty20 matches. The England and Wales Cricket Board said Friday that Warwickshire bowler Chris Woakes was the only uncapped player named in the squad and he will be joined by Craig Kieswetter for the Twenty20 series only. Bangladesh ODI abandoned The fourth One-Day International between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe has been abandoned after rain made conditions unplayable in Chittagong Friday. Referee Chris Broad called the match off at 12:40 local after the final inspection with both captains finding the ground conditions unplayable. Bangladesh leads the five-match series 2-1. The fifth and final match will be held at the same ground Sunday.
