Former international leg-spinner Stuart MacGill was 'gobsmacked' by the selectors' decision to include Michael Beer in the Australian squad for the third Ashes Test in Perth.

Beer was named in the 12-man squad for the WACA Test which starts on December 16, despite having played a total of only five first-class games. In contrast MacGill, who managed 44 Tests of his own to take 208 wickets, was forced to be patient throughout his career, playing second fiddle in the Australian line-up to Shane Warne.

"I am gobsmacked, shocked, I honestly cannot believe it," MacGill told Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

"The team will have to change again after the next Test.

"Good on Michael Beer, good bloke and good player, but look at this as a job interview and show me his qualifications to get this job. He doesn't have any. He is not qualified for the job they have given him," said the former leg-spinner.

"Sending him out there next week, what are they trying to do?"

Nathan Hauritz was the first-choice Australian spinner in the lead up to the Ashes series, but fell out of favour on the recent tour of India. MacGill believes that Hauritz, who has taken 67 wickets in 17 Tests, is being unfairly alienated by the selectors and that the off-spinner should have been Australia's first choice from the start of the Ashes.

"Xavier Doherty was (a strange inclusion) too, to be honest.

"They are clearly telling Nathan Hauritz, 'you are never playing test cricket again'. I don't understand that.

"Xavier Doherty should never have played the first two Tests. Michael Beer shouldn't be playing this one."

Beer played club level cricket in Melbourne for years before moving to Western Australia at the start of the present season and has figured in just three Sheffield Shield home games at the WACA. MacGill therefore, cannot understand the explanation given for Beer's inclusion by chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.

"To be honest, from Andrew Hilditch's comments, he doesn't even really know who Michael Beer is. He said he'll bowl well in Perth because it's his home ground."

"I'm not sure Andrew thought those comments through before he made them," added MacGill.

"Look, Andrew Hilditch is a lovely bloke but someone needs to tell him Michael Beer 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."