It's all becoming delightfully nasty

Martin Johnson in the Sunday Times writes of the desperation that is obvious in Australian cricket circles, with criticism coming from former players, and he notes that “it’s all becoming delightfully nasty”.

Even when somebody pops up in more positive mood it raises a chuckle, as with the observation of the Western Australia and former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur on the prospect of what left-arm spinner Michael Beer might have in store for England in Perth. He described Beer as the "new Paul Harris", which was presumably meant to be a compliment, albeit a dubious one. If the new boy takes wickets in Perth, it will be a rare example of an Australian Beer being any good.

Beer's selection has raised more than a few eyebrows and Nick Hoult in the Daily Telegraph, says that Beer's rapid rise from club cricket, to Shield, and now to the national side, has surprised even his club team-mates.

If he is picked for Australia this week Beer will make his Test debut after playing only four Sheffield Shield matches. Warne had played one fewer when he made his Test debut against India in 1992.

In the Australian, Malcolm Conn points out the importance of Australia’s selectors showing faith with young men like Phillip Hughes and Steve Smith, as the panel of the 1980s displayed with budding stars such as Steve Waugh.

As painful as it may seem, if this Ashes series continues to keep going in the wrong direction, these young players need two things: patience and persistence. First of all they should be told they have the rest of the series to establish themselves. Don't play safety first, don't worry about your place in the team, play to your strengths and take the game on.

And in the Courier-Mail, Robert Craddock takes an often tongue-in-cheek look at ten reasons for Australian fans not to give up hope before the Perth Test.

2. Because it just doesn't seem right that Ian Chappell's resistance against Ian Botham in Adelaide Oval carpark should be the most fight shown by an Australian batsman against an English bowler this summer.