Australia may have discovered their next great fast-bowling sensation in Mahli Beardman. The young pacer announced himself on the international stage in spectacular fashion, dismantling England’s batting lineup during his ODI debut in front of his home crowd at Perth Stadium. His remarkable performance has already earned him comparisons with some of Australia’s quickest bowlers. The nickname ‘Wild Thing’ was previously associated with Shaun Tait because of his blistering pace and unconventional bowling action.
It was later passed on to Western Australian quick Lance Morris when he earned a place in Australia’s Test squad. Beardman has now made a strong case for inheriting the famous tag after producing a sensational spell against England. The 21-year-old made an immediate impression, dismissing England captain Harry Brook and former skipper Joe Root in quick succession. His early breakthroughs left the visitors struggling at 55/4 after 14 overs, with the Perth surface providing plenty of pace and bounce.
Beardman continued his remarkable spell by removing Jordan Cox, Sam Curran and Liam Dawson to complete a memorable five-wicket haul. He eventually dismissed Jofra Archer as well, finishing with outstanding figures of 6/24 in 7.4 overs.
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With this performance, Beardman became only the second Australian male cricketer to claim five wickets on his ODI debut, following Tony Dodemaide. He also registered the best bowling figures by an Australian on ODI debut. At 21 years and 74 days, he became the fifth-youngest bowler to achieve a five-wicket haul in his first ODI.
Youngest bowlers to take five wickets on ODI debut:
- Taskin Ahmed – 19 years, 75 days (Bangladesh vs India, 2014)
- Mustafizur Rahman – 19 years, 285 days (Bangladesh vs India, 2015)
- Kagiso Rabada – 20 years, 46 days (South Africa vs Bangladesh, 2015)
- Charitha Buddhika – 21 years, 65 days (Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 2001)
- Mahli Beardman – 21 years, 74 days (Australia vs England, 2026)
Beardman’s rise has been shaped by his admiration for former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. Johnson’s devastating performances during the 2013-14 Ashes series left a lasting impression on the youngster. He also benefited from the guidance of legendary Australian pacer Dennis Lillee, who mentored him during his formative years.
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His talent was recognised early. Beardman first attracted attention while playing cricket in Cowaramup at the age of 10. A subsequent two-year stint in Dampier helped his development, with the Western Australian Cricket Association identifying his potential.
His association with Lillee began when he was 15. In 2022, he received an opportunity to bowl at Australia’s senior players ahead of their Test series against the West Indies. That year, he also earned selection for Australia’s Under-19 team.
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Beardman made his List A debut for Western Australia against New South Wales in 2023, dismissing Moises Henriques for his maiden wicket. He later played a key role in Australia’s 2024 Under-19 World Cup triumph, taking 3/15 against India in the final.
After making his Big Bash League debut for Perth Scorchers in 2025, Beardman secured a senior Western Australia contract. His international journey began with a T20I appearance against Pakistan in 2026. Now, his stunning ODI debut has firmly placed him among Australia’s most exciting fast-bowling prospects.
