A debut to remember
Mahli Beardman's first One-Day International became a remarkable introduction to 50-over cricket at the highest level.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl against England at Perth Stadium. Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett made early breakthroughs before Beardman took centre stage.
The young Western Australian fast bowler claimed five wickets, removing England captain Harry Brook, experienced batter Joe Root, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran and Liam Dawson. Josh Inglis took three catches off Beardman's bowling, while Adam Zampa and Jack Edwards held catches to complete the other two dismissals.
A familiar stage for a rising fast bowler
Beardman had already shown his ability in major matches. In February 2024, his spell of 3/15 against India helped Australia win the Under-19 World Cup final and earned him the Player of the Match award.
He later made his senior T20 International debut against Pakistan in January 2026, before a back stress injury interrupted his progress.
His return to international cricket brought another important milestone: a five-wicket haul on ODI debut, this time in his home state of Western Australia.
The bigger picture
Australia are building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, and performances from emerging fast bowlers are especially valuable as the team develops its next generation of options.
For Beardman, the Perth performance marked a significant step from promising youth international to a bowler capable of troubling established international batters
