Rising star Mahli Beardman delivers record‑breaking ODI debut for Australia

After recording a record bowling performance on his debut at just 21, Mahli Beardman celebrated by heading to the beach.

For Beardman, the emerging standout fast bowler for Australia, the instinct was clear: “Just head straight to the beach!”

In his first One‑Day International, played on home soil, Beardman produced a six‑wicket haul of 24 runs, the finest figures by an Australian debutant in ODI history.

His performance helped Australia dominate England and secure a decisive win in Perth.

“I’d love to live the way he does—carefree, with a passion for the ocean and a drive to master fast bowling,” said captain Mitchell Marsh, a fellow Western Australian.

Beardman’s youthful confidence and potential offered exactly what Australia needed in a time of crisis.

For him, sandpaper is nothing more than a tool to keep his surfboard pristine.

Nevertheless, Beardman has endured delays and personal setbacks.

Two years ago, having played just a single professional match, he joined Australia’s white‑ball squads on a tour of England following a standout Under‑19 World Cup.

Although he didn’t feature in the matches, his bowling demonstrations between innings—his blonde hair whipping in the wind—offered a preview of the Ashes future for both nations.

Seeing Mitchell Johnson’s devastating spell against England in the 2013‑14 Ashes sparked Beardman’s interest in cricket, and he has trained with Ashes legend Dennis Lillee since his teenage years.

Combine his precision, zip and effortless pace, and Beardman appears to possess all the essential qualities.

In 2025, however, he faced his first of two stress fractures in his back—a common ailment among promising young fast bowlers.

The second injury followed his sole previous Australian appearance, a T20 match in Pakistan in January, where he took 2 for 33.

Just two weeks earlier, he had dismissed former Australian captain Steve Smith and unsettled him in a Big Bash playoff, adding momentum to his rising profile.

“There’s always doubt,” he said following his decisive performance on Friday.

“I never lost my love for the game; the question was whether I could return to bowl as well and maintain my speed.”

After a carefully managed comeback, those doubts were laid to rest in Perth, the city where he has developed his domestic career.

Over 7.4 overs, Beardman bowled at an average of 86.5 mph, the fastest of his career, with a top speed of 90.6 mph, also a personal best.

What impressed most was his mastery of line and length; England rarely found a spot to attack.

He induced subtle movement both ways, enough to skim Harry Brook’s outside edge for his first ODI wicket just into his second over.

“After taking the first wicket, spinner Adam Zampa ran up, tapped me on the back and reminded, ‘Keep a level head, mate,'” Beardman recalled.

“That helped settle my nerves a bit.”

Later, Joe Root edged a drive and Jordan Cox tentatively nicked the ball, while a bouncer to Sam Curran—hooked to fine leg—demonstrated Beardman’s ability to trouble even the most experienced batsmen.

“He bowled lively, swung the ball both ways, and his control was flawless,” former Australian all‑rounder Tom Moody commented on BBC Test Match Special. “His composure was remarkable.”

That Friday was actually the first time Moody—renowned for his franchise management acumen—had seen the promising quick in person, underscoring Beardman’s relative inexperience at the highest level.

This ODI marked his 12th professional 50‑over match, in addition to 14 T20 games, while his first‑class debut continues to be highly anticipated.

“I’ve watched him in the Big Bash, and he definitely carries a certain presence,” said former England captain Michael Vaughan.

“There are moments in sport when you see someone and immediately know they have it.

“It’s hard to pin down what sets them apart. The way he moves, the confidence he exudes—he plays as if every match is his club’s game.

“If he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for his career.”

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