Former Test spinner Michael Beer to captain St Kilda in Premier Cricket

ST Kilda has replaced retired captain Rob Quiney with another Test cricketer, Michael Beer.

One of St Kilda’s oldest hands is its new captain.

Former Australian spinner Michael Beer will succeed Rob Quiney, who retired at the end of last season after a marvellous career that took in Test and much state and club cricket.

Beer, 34, has given the Saints similarly long service since crossing from Sub-District club Malvern.

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It was broken by his transfer to WA, from where he rose to Test cricket in 2011.

The left-armer is also one of T20’s best slow bowlers and will again play in the Big Bash for the Melbourne Stars.

“’Beery’ has achieved more than most in the game,’’ Saints coach Glenn Lalor said.

“Test cricket, a successful T20 career with Perth and Melbourne, super competitor and he’ll teach our kids the ropes.’’

Beer will lead a team that had the better of eventual premier Dandenong in a semi-final last season.

The Saints declared at 8-266 and had Dandy 8-177 on day two; the Panthers escaped with a draw, went through as the higher qualified team and two weeks later defeated Fitzroy-Doncaster in the grand final.

St Kilda had a profitable off-season, recruiting Test batsman Nic Maddinson, Victorian rookie Patrick Rowe and off-spinning allrounder Todd Murphy, the son of former Saints batsman Jamie Murphy. How much the Saints see of Maddinson remains to be seen — he’s expected to play a lot of cricket for Victoria, despite arriving in Melbourne without a first-class contract.

Nic Maddinson batting for the Vics in the JLT series.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rowe, 17, is one of Victoria’s brightest prospects but had Seb Gotch and Sam Harper in front of him in the keeping queue at Melbourne.

He’ll stand behind the sticks at the Saints, who used Alex Bychkov and Jarrod Munday last season.

St Kilda has picked up another talented youngster in Noah Severin, who played in the Second XI for Kingston Hawthorn and for South East Bayside Breakers in the state under 18 championships last season.

He had scores of 133 and 80 (run out) for the Breakers.

Blade Baxter, James Muirhead, Alex Bychkov and Andrew McGorian have departed the club.

Suspended Test player Cameron Bancroft has been training with the Saints as he completes a two-month study course in Melbourne.

Bancroft contacted Beer and asked if he could join in the pre-season.

“He’s probably trained a dozen times … and it’s been fantastic to have someone of his stature around our group,’’ Lalor said.

“He’s given feedback to the kids, helped them along the way, and been very positive. A bonus really, to have him fall in our lap. Exciting.’’