A tumultuous week for Australian cricket concluded on a high note as debutant fast bowler Mahli Beardman led the hosts to a commanding victory over England in Perth. Despite off-field tensions and the absence of the team’s primary quicks, Australia secured a comprehensive seven-wicket win in the opening ODI of the series. A week of watching Australian cricket descend into civil war ended with smiles being wiped from English faces after a stunning debut from the fast bowler Mahli Beardman consigned the tourists to an all-too-familiar hammering in Perth. Nevertheless, England appeared better prepared this time, while the hosts were missing their big three quicks and fighting sandpaper-related bushfires off the field.
England were bundled out for just 131 runs in 33.4 overs, struggling significantly after finding themselves at 68 for eight during their innings. The tourists were undone by Optus Stadium’s challenging conditions and a failure to counter the short-pitched deliveries. Gus Atkinson provided the highest score for England with 29 runs, while Joe Root, appearing in his 200th ODI, was limited to 17 runs after being dropped early in his stay. Optus Stadium is a notoriously low-scoring 50-over ground and there was a collective failure to adjust. Root struggling to get going usually indicates difficult conditions and the 17 runs he scored in his 200th ODI – having been dropped on three – came in painstaking fashion. Spiteful outswing that asked plenty of questions, as he nicked off Brook and Joe Root to open his ODI account you could see it too: slippery. Having been undone by a combination of driving on the up – clearly still an issue for them in Perth – and some tepid efforts against the short ball, england’s supposedly deep batting lineup did not have many answers. While 25 runs apiece for Tom Banton and Will Jacks was as good as it got among the top seven, gus Atkinson top-scored with 29.
The standout performer was 21-year-old Beardman, who claimed a national record of six for 24 from 7.4 overs on his international debut. The Western Australian, who regularly hits 90mph, credited his development to mentorship from legend Dennis Lillee. Reflecting on his rapid rise, Beardman noted that he initially caught the attention of family friends while bowling at a bin before successfully pursuing coaching from Lillee through sheer persistence. Too, with Beardman claiming figures of six for 24 from 7.4 overs in his first ODI – a national record, no less, there was more than a touch of Cummins about their tormentor on the day. But already touching 90mph on the speed gun, the Western Australian looks a considerable prospect, just 21 years old. Much like Cummins, Beardman has been mentored by the great Dennis Lillee and endured battles with a rebellious body along the way.
In the field, Beardman’s efforts were supported by left-armer Spencer Johnson, who finished with three for 42, including the early scalp of Ben Duckett. Australia’s run chase was swift, wrapping up the match with 159 balls to spare. Although Travis Head fell for a golden duck to an Atkinson delivery, an aggressive 30-ball half-century from his opening partner set the tempo for the comfortable pursuit. Though first drawn to cricket by Mitchell Johnson’s exploits during the 2013-14 Ashes, Beardman grew up modelling his action on South Africa’s Dale Steyn.
Josh Inglis and Matt Renshaw ultimately steered the team to victory. For England, the defeat leaves them trailing 1-0 in the series, echoing the difficult start to their previous Ashes campaign in the region. Beardman, who was named player of the match, admitted his whirlwind debut felt surreal, noting that he had not envisioned such a performance when lying in bed the night before. Victory in a low-key one-day international was never going to atone for the galling start to that failed Ashes campaign here 12 months ago. And yet by 4.38pm local time – nine hours after Pat Cummins had finished his marathon takedown of Usman Khawaja’s autobiography in Sydney – Harry Brook’s side were 1-0 down once again. It would not be a shock to see him handed a baggy green cap in the coming months or travel to England for the Ashes next year, even with a first-class debut still pending.
Beyond the scorecard, the win provided a temporary distraction for the Australian side, which has been embroiled in a week of public disagreements and complex off-field claims. While the internal friction persists, the emergence of a talent like Beardman offers a significant boost to the squad as they look ahead to future challenges, including next year’s tour of England.
