Agar nod in battle of the spinners
One two-Test spinner out. Another two-Test spinner in.
Ashton Agar's recall to the WA Sheffield Shield team after a one-match suspension has forced Michael Beer to contemplate his future with the Warriors.
Coach Justin Langer wants Beer to stay in WA and guaranteed the left-armer would receive an offer of a contract extension at the end of the season.
But having dropped Beer to make way for the younger and significantly more versatile Agar in the crucial match against NSW at the WACA Ground starting today, Langer is aware the senior spinner may seek opportunities in his native Victoria or with another State.
Meanwhile NSW won the toss and elected to bat in the Shield clash.
"I certainly hope Michael Beer is here next year and for the next five years," Langer said.
"He will certainly be offered a contract for next year.
"He could go to another State but there will be competition wherever he goes. Every State has plenty of spin talent."
Langer said the competition between the two spinners was healthy and had forced both of them to search for ways to improve.
"We picked Ashton Agar for the past 11 shield games so Beery has to wrestle that spot off him," Langer said.
"I know he is determined and ticking boxes in all areas.
"Either Ashton Agar has to lose form or Beery has to be so good we can't ignore him. The competition is on."
Beer bowled with impact in claiming 2-27 in the first innings of the win over Tasmania last week but reverted to his defensive limited-overs style in taking 0-70 in the second innings.
It was not enough to displace Agar who experienced a roller-coaster 2013 during which he made successful shield and Test debuts before struggling to come to terms with the expectations of such a spectacular arrival.
"Ashton is going through a wonderful but horrible journey as a professional sportsman," Langer said.
"I can sympathise having gone through it. Marcus North and I were laughing about it the other night with young guys like Ashton and Cam Bancroft and Joel Paris."
Teams - WA: Marcus North, Cam Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Adam Voges (capt.), Mitch Marsh, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Ashton Agar, Ryan Duffield, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Hogan, Michael Beer (12th).
NSW: Nic Maddinson, Ryan Carters, Scott Henry, Ben Rohrer, Kurtis Patterson, Peter Nevill (capt.), Trent Copeland, Sean Abbott, Manjot Singh, Josh Hazlewood, Doug Bollinger, Gurinder Sandhu (12th to be named).
