Mahli Beardman has stamped his reputation as the next big thing in Australian cricket by producing a sizzling ODI debut in his team’s crushing seven-wicket victory over England in Perth.
On a day when Australian cricket was still knee-deep dealing with the ghosts of sandpapergate 2018, Beardman snared 6-24 as the tourists were skittled for 131 in 33.4 overs at Optus Stadium.
In reply, Mitch Marsh smashed 50 off 30 balls as Australia reached the victory target with a whopping 159 balls to spare, with Matt Renshaw (26*) and Josh Inglis (23*) finishing off the job.
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The result gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series ahead of game two in Adelaide on Sunday.
While Marsh provided the fireworks with four sixes and four fours before holing out in the deep, it was Beardman’s performance that will long live in the memories of the 27,313 fans at the stadium on Friday.
The 21-year-old was near unplayable at times, with England collapsing from 2-38 to 7-60 on the back of Beardman’s devastating burst.
It marked just the second time an Australian has produced a five-wicket haul in their ODI debut, following on from Tony Dodemaide’s 5-21 against Sri Lanka at the WACA Ground in 1988.
Only some late handy runs from Gus Atkinson (29no off 32 balls) and Will Jacks (25) ensured England made it to triple figures, with the visitors 8-65 at one stage.
“It all happened very quickly,” Beardman told Fox Cricket when asked about his big haul.
“It’s just a great privilege and honour to be able to represent my country. And to go out and take a few wickets as well is the cherry on top.
“Harry Brook was a nice wicket to get off the mark. Anytime you get your first one it’s a weight off your shoulders, so that was awesome.”
Beardman, who was handed his ODI cap by Test legend Mike Hussey, received a big cheer from his hometown crowd when he was introduced into the attack for the 10th over – a maiden.
The right-arm paceman snared his maiden ODI wicket in his next over when he found the edge of England captain Brook (1).
That was just a taste of things to come.
Hitting speeds of up to 145.4km/h, Beardman was able to entice 200-game milestone man Joe Root (17 off 36 balls) to drive on the up to gift wicketkeeper Josh Inglis his third catch of the innings.
And Beardman was on a hat-trick when he collected the scalp of Jordan Cox at the start of his fourth over – again with another pearler of a delivery that caught the edge.
Beardman’s hat-trick ball was anticlimactic — a wide down the leg side.
But while his first three wickets came courtesy of fuller deliveries that featured swing and seam, Beardman’s next wicket proved his pace and bounce is also a major weapon.
Sam Curran’s attempted pull off Beardman’s bouncer gave Adam Zampa a catch on the boundary rope.
And Beardman’s five-wicket haul was complete when Liam Dawson was caught at gully, giving the West Australian figures of 5-13 off 4.4 overs at that point.
To mark the special moment, the Australian team formed a circle around Beardman as the rising star raised the ball in the air.
Spencer Johnson (3-42) ensured the party continued by jumping high in the air to pull off a one-handed catch off his own bowling to send Jamie Overton packing.
Atkinson and Jofra Archer (11) struck a series of boundaries in a 29-run last-wicket stand before Beardman completed the demolition job by having Archer caught at gully.
Beardman’s figures were the fourth best by a debutant in ODI world cricket, with Charlie Cassell’s effort of 7-21 for Scotland against Oman in 2024 still the best.
BEST BOWLING FIGURES BY AN ODI MEN’S DEBUTANT:
* 7-21: Charlie Cassell (Scotland) v Oman, 2024
* 6-16: Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) v Bangladesh, 2015
* 6-22: Fidel Edwards (West Indies) v Zimbabwe, 2003
* 6-24: Mahli Beardman (Australia) v England, 2016
