‘Dumped’ Xavier Doherty warns Michael Beer to be ready for an English onslaught in Perth

Dumped Australian left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty has warned his successor Michael Beer to expect a baptism of fire from an England line-up ready to attack him from the first ball.

Doherty said that England’s in-form batsmen would aim to target the debutant during the third Ashes Test, starting on Thursday at Perth’s WACA Ground, in a bid to unsettle him early.

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.

“Particularly on a wicket where it’s going to favour the quicker bowlers, I imagine the English will see the spinner as a chance to take him down,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Doherty, as saying.

“That’s what they tried to do with me and they put me under that little bit more pressure. I imagine that’s going to be the same with him as well.”

“I expect he’s in for a good battle. I don’t actually know the guy, but from all reports he’s pretty tough and he’s expecting that sort of stuff, good luck to him,” 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.