Australia will unleash their new pace bowling hope, Mahli Beardman, in the first of three one-day internationals against England on Friday. Skipper Mitchell Marsh called him “an amazing talent.”
Veteran quicks Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are all sitting out the series, which gets underway in the shadow of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that reignited this week.
A Chance for Fresh Faces
Their absence ahead of home Tests against New Zealand gives selectors the opportunity to include a host of new players as they build toward Australia’s World Cup defense next year.
“He’s an amazing talent, a ripping young kid,” Marsh told reporters while confirming that the 21-year-old Beardman would make his ODI debut on his home ground.
“Looking forward to seeing him out on a fast and bouncy Perth Stadium wicket,” Marsh said. “For a young kid, he really understands his game early on in his career. He loves to bowl fast. He’s always on record saying that all he wants to do is bowl fast, and that’s an attitude that you can’t always teach.”
Beardman’s Rise
Beardman made his T20 debut in January, claiming 2-33 against Pakistan in Lahore. He then spent the next seven months recovering from a back stress injury.
Australia’s Attack and Batting Order
The rest of the team will be announced at the toss. Xavier Bartlett is set to lead the attack alongside Beardman and left-arm seamer Spencer Johnson. All-rounders Jack Edwards and Liam Scott are additional options.
Marsh and Travis Head headline the Australian batting. Test stars Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw and Alex Carey are also in the squad.
England Hit by Injury Blows
The home side enter the match with a run of three straight ODI series wins over England. The visitors suffered a double blow before the games even started. Batsman Jacob Bethell and paceman Josh Tongue have both been ruled out with injuries and are heading home.
England will once again rely heavily on veteran Joe Root to anchor the batting and Jofra Archer to lead the attack.
“Our focus is all about what we do between now and that World Cup,” Root said. “We’re not the most finished article. We’re not an experienced team that’s been together for three or four years. So it’s really important we make the most of the opportunities that we have ahead of us, and we keep looking to learn and grow and develop to get ourselves in the best possible place leading into that tournament.”
What Comes Next
Australia and England will play five T20 internationals after the one-dayers.