Michael Beer to lead WA XI against England

Perth: Michael Beer will captain a second-string Western Australia Chairman`s XI against England in the tourists` opening three-day match at Perth`s WACA Ground starting on Thursday.

The left-arm spinner may be joined in the team by allrounder Mitch Marsh, the younger brother of Test batsman Shaun, but he will have to pass a fitness test on an injured hamstring. The 22-year-old Marsh has not played since August, on the Australia A tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa. Beer, who played one of his two Tests against England on the last Ashes tour in Sydney in 2011, has recently lead the state`s one-day side in the Ryobi Cup. The WA XI will be bolstered by Queensland`s Chris Lynn, who hit the winning runs on Sunday to help the Bulls secure a five-wicket Ryobi Cup final victory over New South Wales in Sydney. Adam Voges, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mitchell Johnson are all on international duty in India, while Liam Davis and paceman Joel Paris are injured. The match clashes with Western Australia`s opening Sheffield Shield game against Victoria starting in Melbourne on Wednesday. Test players Shaun Marsh, Ashton Agar and Marcus North are all playing in the WA Shield side. WA Chairman`s XI (from): Michael Beer (capt), James Allenby, Burt Cockley, Matt Dixon, Ryan Duffield, Marcus Harris, Chris Lynn, Mitch Marsh, Luke Towers, Tom Triffitt, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye.