Mahli Beardman: Rising star fast bowler named standby for Australia’s ODI series

MELBOURNE: Mahli Beardman, a 19-year-old fast bowler from Western Australia, has been thrust into the national spotlight after being named as a standby for Australia’s upcoming ODI series in England. Despite having just one senior professional cricket match to his name, Beardman’s standout performance in the under-19 World Cup final against India, where he earned player-of-the-match honors, made selectors take notice.

With Pat Cummins and other leading fast bowlers opting to skip the England series due to its relatively low stakes, Beardman’s selection fills a gap created by injuries to pacers Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis. While the choice to include Beardman, who can bowl above 140 km/h, raised eyebrows in Australia — a country known for selecting based on experience rather than potential — his impressive pace and mentorship under legendary fast bowler Dennis Lillee signal a promising future.

Even Beardman himself expressed surprise at the call-up, noting it felt surreal when contacted by an Australian selector. However, his rapid rise hints at a bright career ahead in Australian cricket.