Australia newcomer Michael Beer is hoping his love of a challenge sees him through his shock Test debut against England this week.
The 26-year-old has played just six first-class games but was plucked from obscurity to replace fellow left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty in the line-up for the third Test in Perth, which begins in the early hours of Thursday morning.
He took five wickets for Western Australia in a warm-up game against the tourists at the WACA, but is unsure whether Test cricket has come calling too soon.
“It’s a hard one that,” he said. “Hopefully I am ready, I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m confident of my own ability in a contest, so hopefully that comes out shining.
“I love a challenge. I’m just running off that at the moment. It’s just a matter of me knowing my role and trying to execute it as best I can.”
Beer’s limited first-class record makes uninspiring reading, with just 16 wickets in 10 innings at an average a shade over 40.
But he can at least call upon the experience of that warm-up game – in which he dismissed Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell and Matt Prior in England’s first innings and Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood in the second.
He said: “I think it will definitely help being in the same surroundings.
“I’ll take a fair bit out of that contest with them. I enjoyed that and learnt from it.”
Beer got his call ahead of former Nelson professional Nathan Hauritz, who claimed career-best batting and bowling figures last week and was expected to reclaim his place in the side.
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