Six wickets for 24 runs on ODI debut: Australia's new pace storm Mahli Beardman

Australia had long been searching for a new generation of fast bowlers. On Friday at Perth Stadium, in the first one-day international against England, 21-year-old Mahli Beardman made that search much easier. In his very first international match he tore through England's batting order.

In his first match in this format, the Western Australian pacer bowled 7.4 overs. He took six wickets for just 24 runs. It was his bowling that bowled England out for only 131 runs.

Most of England's experienced batters were among Beardman's victims. He dismissed captain Harry Brook. He then sent Jordan Cox, Sam Curran and Liam Dawson back to the pavilion one after another. Jofra Archer was the sixth and final wicket of his dream debut.

With those figures, Beardman set a new record in Australian one-day international history. He now holds the best bowling figures by an Australian on men's ODI debut. The previous record belonged to Tony Dodemaide, who took 5 wickets for 21 runs against Sri Lanka in 1988.

He also entered the age records. At 21 years and 74 days, he became the fifth-youngest bowler to take five wickets on ODI debut.

Beardman was born on 31 August 2005 in Dunsborough, Western Australia. His pace caught the eye of Australian cricket scouts from childhood. His talent was first noticed at the age of 10, when he was playing in Cowaramup.

Beardman then spent two years in Dampier. It was there that the Western Australian Cricket Association recognised his talent.

He began his cricket journey idolising former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. Johnson's destructive bowling in the 2013-14 Ashes series had a deep influence on him. He also came under the guidance of another Australian great, Dennis Lillee — becoming Lillee's pupil at the age of 15.

His career took a new turn in 2022. He was called up to bowl to Australia's senior bowlers as they prepared for the Test series against the West Indies. The same year, he was included in Australia's Under-19 team against England for the first time.

The following year he made his List A debut for Western Australia against New South Wales. His first wicket in senior domestic cricket was Moises Henriques.

Beardman became known to world cricket at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup. He was a member of Australia's title-winning squad in South Africa. In the final against India, he took three wickets for just 15 runs and played an important role in winning the trophy.

His progress in domestic cricket continued. In 2025 he made his Big Bash League debut for the Perth Scorchers against the Sydney Thunder, and he also signed a senior contract with Western Australia. This year he made his international T20 debut against Pakistan. On the India tour with the Australia A team, he took 5 wickets in two matches in Puducherry.

Because of his pace, Beardman is being called Australian cricket's new 'Wild Thing' — the nickname once earned by Shaun Tait and Lance Morris. With Australian cricket in turmoil over the Sandpaper-gate scandal, this performance against England announced his arrival, and hinted at what he could show in the coming Ashes series.